Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam has alleged that a senior IAS officer in Chief Minister's Office aided Vidarbha Infotech, an information technology company, to bag the contract for towing vehicles for parking rules violations in Mumbai. The man he named is Praveen Darade, additional commissioner of MMRDA and secretary to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Chief Minister's Office has issued a clarification that there is no wrongdoing in awarding towing contract to Vidarbha Infotech. The tendering process was done by the traffic department at the level of joint commissioner of police. During the e-tendering process, the company had the lowest bid and based on that it was awarded contract for seven years.
Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam | via Facebook
Sanjay Nirupam spoke to THE WEEK and explained the details in an interview
When did you first find out about the whole issue?
A friend told me two-three weeks ago that a constable from traffic department had filed a complaint against Vidarbh Infotech that they have been given 1000 sq feet office in traffic branch headquarters in Worli. He also said that this company had got contracts to tow away the vehicles which are violating parking rules.
Then it so happened that all of us saw the video in which a hydraulic machine was picking up a car in which a lady was feeding her child. I was very angry with the inhuman approach used by police.
So I began making inquiries and was told that Vidarbha Infotech is very close to Praveen Darade, senior IAS officer in the CMO.
What is the link between Vidarbha Infotech and Praveen Darade? Has he helped the company in the past ?
That is what I am asking to be probed—the link between Darade and Vidarbha Infotech. I got a tip off that the company has received many favours from Darade in past. It got nearly 10 contracts, all given by institutions where Darade worked. When Darade was heading Nagpur Improvement Trust, Vidarbh Infotech got three contracts. When he came to Mumbai and started working in CMO, the company began getting contracts here. Then another contract was given to the company last year when Darade became additional commissioner of MMRDA. This has been the trend. I want to know that whether this is just a coincidence or something else; whether nepotism or favouritism involved here.
Darade is a senior officer in CMO. Do you feel he has higher political backing and blessings?
Darade is the only officer in the entire state who has been allotted a bungalow in Malabar Hill till his retirement. This is a BMC bungalow, and not a state government bungalow. The logic given is that his wife Vaishali, an IRS officer, is additional commissioner with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). All IAS and IRS officers get transferred after three years. Also, if his wife is working with BMC, why has the bungalow been allotted to Darade? Has the chief minister's influence played a main role here? I feel Fadnavis should clarify why he is favoring Darade.
What evidence have you collected? How much money is the government losing because of this ?
The government is not losing money here, but people of Mumbai are. Earlier the towing charges were in the range of Rs 150-200 for four-wheelers. After contract was given to Vidarbha Infotech the rates have been increased to Rs 660. Of this, Rs 400 goes to company, Rs 200 to state government and Rs 60 is tax.
Similarly for two-wheelers, the earlier towing charges were in the range of Rs 50-100. Now they are Rs 436 of which the government and the company get Rs 200 each and Rs 36 is tax.
There are 1.7 million bikers and over 9 lakh four-wheelers in the city. This company has deployed 80 hydraulic cranes for towing away vehicles. Also, earlier towing contracts were given locally and it had created around 1,000 jobs.
What action are you demanding against those involved?
I am asking the chief minister to investigate the whole issue. First of all, the contract with Vidarbh Infotech should be terminated. Relationship between Darade and Praveen Ugemuge of Vidarbh Infotech should be scrutinised. If the chief minister believes in transparency, he should order an inquiry. Also, take away the 1000 sq ft Office given to the company in Worli where even the electricity bills are being paid by the traffic department.
