Forensic Report Exposes Tender Fabrication
• Pre-Planned Ambulance Tender Scam Busted
• High Court Assurance Violated
• BVG and Sumeet Exposed
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
In this exclusive investigation by Sprouts Special Investigation Team (SIT), massive irregularities have been uncovered in Maharashtra’s 108 ambulance tender. From forged cabinet approvals to cyber-forensic evidence of pre-drafted tenders by private firms, the scam exposes deep-rooted corruption, misuse of public funds, and blatant disregard for judicial and regulatory processes.
Sprouts SIT Exposes Massive Irregularities in 108 Ambulance Tender
A major corruption scandal has rocked Maharashtra’s healthcare system, with fresh evidence confirming that the 108 ambulance tender process was pre-planned and manipulated to benefit a private consortium. In a series of continuous investigative follow-ups since the beginning, the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT)—led by Editor-in-Chief Unmesh Gujarathi—has exposed how BVG India Ltd and Sumeet Facilities allegedly orchestrated a fraudulent takeover of emergency health services worth crores.
The tender was awarded despite multiple red flags: conflict of interest, forensic audit warnings, and even High Court concerns. The entire process, from document creation to cabinet approval, shows signs of deliberate tampering.
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Contents
- Forensic Report Exposes Tender Fabrication
- Sprouts SIT Exposes Massive Irregularities in 108 Ambulance Tender
- Click Here To Download the News Attachment
- High Court Misled, Amicus Curiae Ignored
- Forensic Evidence Confirms Private Tender Manipulation
- Cabinet Note Forged, Non-Existent Company Got Work Order
- History of Corruption: BVG India and Sumeet Facilities’ Troubled Past
- Worker Exploitation and Fake Medical Records
- Financial Loot: Inflated Costs and Loss of State Ownership
- RTI Activists Demand Criminal Prosecution and Blacklisting
- A Health Crisis Fueled by Corruption
- Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Seeks Contempt Proceedings Against Satyaki Savarkar in Pune Defamation Case.
- Related Article : Sumeet Facilities Director Amit Prabhakar Arrested in ₹450 Crore Jharkhand Liquor Scam.
- Private Firms Manipulate Tender Process Before Approval
- Forged Cabinet Note and Inflated Costs Point to High-Level Scam
High Court Misled, Amicus Curiae Ignored
When the matter reached the Bombay High Court, it appointed an Amicus Curiae who raised crucial objections:
•Sumeet Facilities, one of the consortium partners, was simultaneously advisor to the Maharashtra government and participant in the same tender — a textbook case of conflict of interest.
•The tender documents were created by private parties, not by government officials, and were digitally traced back to Sumeet’s Pimpri office, as confirmed by cyber-forensic reports.
•The court was assured that BVG India’s inclusion in the tender would depend on a pending forensic audit, which was never completed.
Despite these serious concerns, the state government proceeded with awarding the contract to the same consortium.
Forensic Evidence Confirms Private Tender Manipulation
An explosive cyber-forensic affidavit dated 29/12/2023 submitted by experts confirms:
•All critical tender documents — eligibility, ambulance criteria, and IT specs — were created and uploaded within minutes from the systems of Sumeet Facilities, not from any government servers.
•Private individual Ms. Karande, with no official designation, uploaded the tender on the government portal.
•These documents were tailored to benefit the BVG–Sumeet consortium, suggesting predetermined intent.
This damning evidence confirms the Sprouts SIT’s early suspicions: the tender was not only manipulated—but manufactured—by vested interests.
Cabinet Note Forged, Non-Existent Company Got Work Order
The Sprouts SIT uncovered that the cabinet approval for the ₹100+ crore ambulance contract was falsified:
•The proposal appeared as item no. 9 in the cabinet’s 13 March 2024 agenda but was missing from the final approval list.
•Nonetheless, a work order was issued on 15 March, falsely citing cabinet approval.
•Even more shocking: the consortium receiving the order was officially registered only on 12 April 2024, nearly a month after receiving the contract.
This raises serious legal and administrative concerns over forgery of official records and awarding contracts to non-existent entities.
History of Corruption: BVG India and Sumeet Facilities’ Troubled Past
BVG India Ltd, which held the 108 ambulance contract between 2014 and 2019, was allowed to continue operations illegally till 2024 without any transparent extension. During this period:
•No independent accounting records were maintained for public funds received.
•Despite facing multiple complaints, no forensic audit was completed—despite court assurances.
Sumeet Facilities, on the other hand, is linked to:
•Legal action in Jharkhand over a liquor scam involving its partner Amit Salunkhe.
•Prior black marks in Chhattisgarh.
•Acting as a government advisor while bidding, violating all ethical norms.
The Sprouts SIT consistently highlighted these histories in its ongoing reporting, demanding criminal scrutiny.
Worker Exploitation and Fake Medical Records
Doctors and field staff under the new contract have submitted affidavits alleging:
•Fake OPD registrations are being forced to inflate service delivery numbers.
•Ambulances are misused as mortuary vans, endangering health personnel.
•Salaries are undefined in the tender, allowing contractors to exploit workers like bonded laborers.
Despite knowing these violations, the government fast-tracked the approval with no safeguarding measures in place.
Financial Loot: Inflated Costs and Loss of State Ownership
The financial structure of the contract is another red flag:
•Ambulances are being procured at three times the market rate.
•50% of the inflated cost is being paid by the Maharashtra government, yet ownership remains with the private contractors.
•The tender committee set up on 16 June 2023 merely served as a rubber stamp, having not drafted any real proposal.
•Old ambulances from the 2014 batch, still in good condition, are being recycled to cut costs while claiming new procurements.
This reveals a well-orchestrated financial fraud, disguised as public healthcare reform.
RTI Activists Demand Criminal Prosecution and Blacklisting
Veteran RTI activists, who have followed the case alongside Sprouts News, have formally requested:
1.Immediate cancellation of the current tender.
2.A full forensic audit from 2014 to 2024.
3.FIRs and criminal prosecution against responsible officials and companies.
4.Blacklisting of BVG India Ltd and Sumit Facilities from future tenders.
5.Disciplinary and criminal action against officers who forged cabinet records.
These demands echo the core findings of the Sprouts SIT investigation, which has consistently pursued this story from day one.
A Health Crisis Fueled by Corruption
This case is not just about procedural lapses—it is a direct threat to public health and governance. The findings by Sprouts News Editor-in-Chief Unmesh Gujarathi and the SIT team confirm that the 108 ambulance service in Maharashtra has been turned into a money-making racket for politically linked private players.
With forged documents, fake approvals, and systemic deceit, this scandal reflects the urgent need for criminal accountability, audit reforms, and public transparency.
Sprouts Special Investigation Team (SIT) urges the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, judiciary, and national investigative agencies to intervene decisively and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Seeks Contempt Proceedings Against Satyaki Savarkar in Pune Defamation Case.
Related Article : Sumeet Facilities Director Amit Prabhakar Arrested in ₹450 Crore Jharkhand Liquor Scam.
Private Firms Manipulate Tender Process Before Approval
In a deeply coordinated fraud, BVG India Ltd, led by Hanmantrao Ramdas Gaikwad, and Sumeet Facilities, owned by Sumeet Prabhakar Salunke, orchestrated a large-scale tender scam in Maharashtra’s 108 ambulance service by manipulating official procedures and documentation. Despite both companies facing prior operational irregularities and even blacklisting in other states, they were favoured through a pre-planned and illegally awarded tender.
Shockingly, tender documents were prepared and uploaded from Sumit Facilities’ private office in Pimpri, days before any official cabinet approval. Cyber forensic evidence confirms that a private individual, Karande, used a non-government email ID to upload these critical documents—blatantly violating protocol and exposing the entire tender process as a sham.
Forged Cabinet Note and Inflated Costs Point to High-Level Scam
Adding to the malpractice, the cabinet note used to justify awarding the ambulance tender was forged. It falsely cited a 13 March 2024 cabinet approval, although no mention of such procurement existed in the actual proceedings. Despite this, a massive ₹1,000 crore work order was issued on 15 March to a consortium that was not even legally formed at the time.
BVG India Ltd and Sumeet Facilities not only defrauded the government through manipulated paperwork but also inflated ambulance costs by over 300%, all while retaining full ownership of vehicles funded 50% by taxpayers. Their actions reveal a calculated attempt to loot public funds under the guise of emergency healthcare, with likely collusion from senior officials and a compromised oversight system.
