Former traffic police chief also favoured towing contractor, alleges Sanjay Nirupam

MUMBAI: A week after targeting controversial bureaucrat

Pravin Darade

, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam has now alleged that senior IPS officer

Milind Bharambe

, as joint commissioner (traffic), had favoured Nagpur-based

Vidarbha Infotech Pvt Ltd

in allotment of

towing contract

for the city.

“On the basis of information obtained from the registrar of companies’ website, we found that Bharambe had played a dubious role in allotment of towing contract to Vidarbha Infotech though it was not eligible owing to lack of experience,” Nirupam said on Wednesday. Earlier, he had alleged that wherever Darade, now additional metropolitan commissioner, was posted, Vidarbha Infotech had secured key assignments there.

Bharambe, IG of Aurangabad range police, said, “There is no substance in the allegations... they are baseless and false. While allotting the towing contract to Vidarbha Infotech Pvt Ltd, there was complete transparency and there no violation of tender conditions...the procedure was scrupulously followed.”

Nirupam claimed that by an order of May 27, 2016, Bharambe had granted towing contract to Vidarbha Infotech on design, build, operate and maintain model though it had no experience. According to the tender conditions, the firm securing the contract should have at least five years’ experience. “On July 22, 2016, the firm passed a resolution saying it intends to carry out the business of buying, selling, towing, hiring…customer service, while, it was awarded the contract on May 27, 2016. Bharmabe granted the contract without verifying the facts. There was blatant violation of tender conditions.” Nirupam alleged that the tender conditions were drafted to ensure that Vidarbha Infotech would secure the contract.

Nirupam added that it was time that CM Devendra Fadanvis suspended the towing contract and terminated all contracts granted to Vidarbha Infotech. Earlier, the CM’s office had described Nirupam’s charges against Darade as baseless and said the issue was sub judice as the towing van operators’ association has moved court.

—Prafulla Marpakwar