Allegations of irregularities in contract against another Maha minister

After Pankaja Munde, another Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde is facing allegations of irregularities in connection with awarding of a Rs 191-crore contract.

However, Tawde told reporters today that there were no irregularities in the decision.

"Not a single rupee has been paid to contractors," the minister said. "We stopped the order immediately after the Finance Department raised objections," he added.

While Munde was accused of corruption in awarding contracts worth Rs 206 crore, Education Minister Tawde is facing allegations of irregularities in a contract awarded by him.

The Finance Department has sought a probe into allegations of irregularities in a Rs 191 crore contract awarded by Tawde's School Education Department without e-tendering.

The contract, cleared by Tawde, was put on hold after the Finance Department objected to it.

The case pertains to the supply of fire extinguishers to 62,105 zilla parishad schools in Maharashtra.

On February 11, the department issued a government resolution authorising the office of the Education Director (Primary) to enter into a rate contract to supply the fire extinguishers. Each fire extinguisher was to be procured for Rs 8,321 and each school was to be provided three extinguishers.