• ₹5,000 Cr Tender Twist Exposed

• CVC Norms Ignored in Govt Tenders

• Sprouts SIT Uncovers Rigged Tenders

Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098

Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered massive irregularities in ₹5,000 crore tenders floated by Maharashtra’s Social Justice and EGS Departments. Violations of CVC guidelines, exclusionary terms, and lack of transparency suggest the tenders were tailored for select contractors. SIT demands an immediate suspension and independent probe into the process.

Controversial Tenders Rock Maharashtra Government Again

The Maharashtra government finds itself embroiled in yet another tender controversy—this time involving the Department of Social Justice, headed by Minister Sanjay Shirsat, and the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) Department under Minister Bharat Gogawale. Both departments have floated separate manpower supply tenders, and both have raised serious questions about transparency, fairness, and competitiveness.

Investigations by the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) reveal that these tenders may have been structured in a manner that favours a select group of contractors, potentially violating the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines meant to ensure fair competition and accountability in public procurement.

₹5,000 Cr Tender Twist Exposed Social Justice Tenders Rigged.

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Contents

• ₹5,000 Cr Tender Twist Exposed
Controversial Tenders Rock Maharashtra Government Again

₹5,000 Crore in Questionable Contracts Without Estimates

Although no official cost estimates have been published in the tender documents, both tenders are believed to be collectively worth around ₹5,000 crore. This has raised red flags about the possibility of hundreds of crores being siphoned off through non-transparent processes. The lack of cost estimation violates CVC norms, which mandate clear disclosure of project costs to prevent speculative or biased bidding.

In both tenders, the terms appear crafted to exclude small and mid-sized firms. Stringent pre-qualification criteria—such as three-year turnover benchmarks, ISO certifications, and 1,000 staff already on payroll—are unrealistic for most local manpower providers and may limit participation to a few pre-informed players.

CVC Guidelines Violated: No Fair Competition, No Pre-Bid Meeting

Key flaws identified by the Sprouts SIT include:

•No pre-bid meetings, despite being mandatory under CVC norms for addressing bidder queries.

•No cost benchmark (Estimate) disclosed in either tender, which enables insider bidders with prior information to quote more strategically.

•Excessively high EMD (Earnest Money Deposit): ₹30 lakh in the EGS tender and ₹7.1 lakh in the MAHAPREIT tender, creating a financial barrier for smaller firms.

•Absence of measurable scope clarity: Neither tender provides details on the number of employees needed, work zones, or resource flexibility—making accurate bidding almost impossible for uninformed bidders.

In essence, the tenders seem custom-built for pre-decided contractors, undermining the principle of equal opportunity in government contracts.

5,000 Cr TSocial Justice ender Twist Exposed

Sprouts SIT Questions Lack of Transparency, Demands Independent Probe

The Sprouts Special Investigation Team points out that the Social Justice Department’s MAHAPREIT tender and the EGS Department’s manpower supply tender both suffer from structural flaws that could lead to significant misuse of public funds. The high technical barriers, ambiguous scope, and non-disclosure of cost create a playing field tilted toward a handful of favoured players.

Moreover, errors in documentation and inconsistent formatting further point to poor tender drafting or deliberate obfuscation. This reinforces suspicions that certain firms were pre-informed or even consulted during tender creation, violating procurement ethics.

Also Read: Massive ₹100 Cr Health ATM Procurement Scam Exposed in Maharashtra.

Call for Suspension, Audit and Accountability of Officers

Given the serious nature of these discrepancies, the Sprouts SIT strongly urges the Maharashtra Government to suspend both tenders immediately and initiate an independent forensic audit. The investigation must:

•Identify which officers approved the tender conditions.

•Examine connections between contractors and officials involved.

•Ensure strict accountability under service rules and anti-corruption laws.

Until the tenders are reviewed and corrected in accordance with CVC guidelines, no further process should be allowed to proceed.

Pattern of Tailored Tenders Must Be Broken

This is not an isolated incident. The Sprouts SIT has documented similar cases across multiple departments, pointing to a pattern of rigged tenders and exclusionary practices. If left unchecked, this undermines public trust, institutional integrity, and market fairness.

As public procurement continues to be a key avenue for government expenditure, transparency, equity, and compliance with CVC norms must become non-negotiable. Only then can Maharashtra hope to restore integrity in its governance systems.