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Madhya Pradesh EOW Probes Alleged ₹10.99-Crore Computer Procurement Fraud
Officials in Madhya Pradesh are investigating a government purchase of computers and other equipment.
The purchase was worth about ₹10.99 crore.
Investigators say four companies may not have been truly separate competitors.
They allege the companies were controlled by the same person and used to create fake competition.
The investigators also say some equipment may have been old or lower quality but sold as new.
They point to shared contact details and similar bidding prices.
The FIR says this may have caused a large loss to the government.
The people accused have not yet responded publicly.
The Madhya Pradesh Economic Offences Wing is investigating alleged procurement fraud worth approximately ₹10.99 crore.
An FIR alleges four firms were presented as independent GeM bidders but were controlled by one person.
Investigators cited shared addresses, contact details, bidding patterns and closely matching prices as evidence of alleged collusion.
The FIR alleges old or inferior computers and UPS units were supplied as new at inflated prices.
The accused individuals have not yet publicly responded to the allegations, while the department could not be reached.
- Who
- The Madhya Pradesh Economic Offences Wing is investigating four firms and their named proprietors: Randhir Kumar Patel, Hemlata Patel, Ashok Kumar Singh and Devendra Singh.
- What
- An FIR alleges collusion, forged tender documents, inflated pricing and the supply of used or inferior computers and UPS equipment.
- Where
- The alleged irregularities involved the Madhya Pradesh Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department and tenders on the Government e-Marketplace.
- When
- The procurement occurred in 2024; the FIR cites equipment installation screenshots dated July 22, 2024, a purchase date of September 23, 2024, and an earnest-money cheque dated October 7, 2024.
- Why
- Investigators allege the firms created fabricated competition and supplied old or inferior equipment at higher prices, causing financial loss to the government.
Investigators' allegations
Accused position
Independence of bidding firms
Investigators' allegations
The EOW alleges that four firms operated from the same address and were controlled by Randhir Kumar Patel, creating fabricated competition in GeM tenders.
Accused position
The accused individuals and firms have not yet responded to the allegations, so no contrary position is reported.
Condition of supplied equipment
Investigators' allegations
The FIR alleges that old or used computers and inferior equipment were represented as new; installation screenshots reportedly predated the stated purchase date.
Accused position
No response from the accused or the department was available in the report to contest or explain the equipment allegations.
Financial impact
Investigators' allegations
The EOW alleges inflated prices and forged documents caused heavy financial loss to the government.
Accused position
The accused have not publicly addressed the alleged loss or the investigators' evidence.
Key facts
- Investigating agency
- Madhya Pradesh Economic Offences Wing (EOW)
- Alleged procurement value
- Approximately ₹10.99 crore
- Department involved
- Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department
- Tender platform
- Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
- Main allegation
- Four supposedly independent firms were allegedly controlled by the same person.
- Evidence cited
- GST records, GeM documents, banking information, manufacturer authorisations and a Reliance Jio customer application form.
- Equipment allegation
- Computers and UPS units were allegedly old or inferior but supplied as new at higher prices.
Quotes
The FIR
The First Information Report underlying the EOW investigation
“Thus, on the basis of the same address, same mobile number and same email domain, four separate firms were fraudulently set up for misappropriating government money and deliberately committed fraud with the Government.”
indianexpress.com
“This establishes that the non-applicants deliberately supplied old and used equipment by representing it as new and committed open fraud with the Government.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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