Maharashtra: Minister Vinod Tawde accused of irregularities in awarding Rs 191 crore contract; BJP calls it political conspiracy

In fresh trouble for the BJP-led Government in Maharashtra, Education Minister Vinod Tawde is facing allegations of irregularities in connection with awarding of a Rs 191 crore contract without inviting tenders, a charge denied by him.

The fresh allegation against a Maharashtra minister comes close on the heels of a similar charge against Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde.

The Finance Department has sought a probe into the irregularties pertaining to a contract awarded by the School Education Department for buying fire extinguishers without e-tendering for Zilla Parishad schools across the state.

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

Meanwhile, top BJP ministers in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government in Maharashtra today rushed to defend Tawde, who maintained that there was no wrongdoing on his part in the alleged Rs 191 crore scam.

At a hurriedly convened press conference here this afternoon, Tawde was flanked by Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and Co-operatives minister Chandrakant Patil.
"The Opposition is making a mountain out of mole hill," Mungantiwar said.

"Our Education department budget for the purpose is Rs 18 crore but there are allegations of a Rs 191 crore scam," Tawde said.

"I (the department) had Rs 18 crore. I could have easily purchased equipment worth that amount. If I were to comply with the SC order, I would have needed Rs 191 crore. I asked Finance Department what should I do?

"There was already a provision of Rs 18 crore made by earlier Congress government for purchase of fire-fighting equipment in schools," Tawde said.

"Had we wanted, we could have ordered equipment based on that provision. However, we approached the finance department, asking about providing the equipment to all the schools. That amount came to Rs 191 crore. That is what is being referred as the 'Rs 191 crore scam' despite the fact that not a single rupee has been given to anyone," Tawde said.

About Rs 6-crore worth equipment was delivered, however, no money has been paid to contractors, Tawde said.

Referring to the controversy in media, Patil said, "If there are such baseless allegations, we won't do such essential things (procure equipment) even if there is contempt of court".

"Then Congress government had decided to order fire extinguishers through rate contract after over 100 students were killed in a Chennai school fire and the Supreme Court had stipulated that firefighting equipment should be installed in schools," he said.

The Indian Express report stated that the contract was given to Thane-based Reliable Fire Engineers on February 27.

The report also said the finance department observed that the dealer who was allotted the work was not on the government’s rate contract list and only 19 crore were allotted in the budget to purchase miscellaneous items for zilla parishad schools.

Mungantiwar said the media reports of the scam are baseless and without any documentary proof.

"I must thank the Education minister that he closed the file immediately. Not a single rupee was given," he said.

Such allegations cannot be made without political conspiracy. There is a dirty political conspiracy in this matter, he alleged.

"How can there be a scam when no purchase has been made," he added.

Reacting on the issue, BJP leader Nalin Kohli said, "You cannot taint people just on the basis of allegations and should show the proof."

Meanwhile, former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and activist Anjali Damania criticized Tawde for awarding contracts without proper tenders and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs have off late been busy in collecting the funds spent during the assembly polls. 

“BJP MLAs are busy in collecting the expenses that they incurred in the polls. How did Vinod Tawde order 62105? Fire extinguishers without tenders? It is absolutely wrong,” said Damania.