Marandi flags alleged irregularities in CCTV tender for police stations, writes to CM

Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi has written to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, alleging serious irregularities in a tender for installation of CCTV cameras in police stations across Jharkhand and seeking its immediate cancellation.

In his letter, Marandi referred to a tender issued by the Jharkhand Agency for Promotion of Information Technology for installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations in compliance with High Court directions.

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He alleged that the procurement process violated state government norms and cabinet decisions. According to him, instead of being floated on the Government e Marketplace portal, the tender was issued through the Jharkhand Tenders platform.

The leader of the Opposition claimed that certain eligibility criteria and procurement standards prescribed by the state had been ignored.

In this context, he cited a letter issued by JAPIT’s Chief Executive Officer to the departmental secretary after publication of the tender. He said it suggested that the process had been initiated on oral instructions and that post facto approvals were being sought.

He also questioned the constitution of the evaluation committee. According to him, officials directly connected with the subject were kept out of the process and technical evaluation was assigned to the Information Technology department.

Marandi further alleged that contractual employees were pressured to move the file forward and that the process was being influenced in favour of a particular company which had earlier executed CCTV work in Ranchi jail.

Urging immediate cancellation of the tender, he sought action against officials found responsible. He cautioned that failure to act could have serious consequences.

There was no immediate response from the state government or JAPIT on the allegations.