School Health Program Scam Exposed: ₹43 Cr Fraud Uncovered.

Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098

A ₹43 crore scam has been exposed in Maharashtra’s school health check-up program under RBSK. Irregularities in vehicle tenders, contract violations, and pre-qualification lapses point to deep-rooted corruption. The Sprouts News Team highlights involvement of top officials and demands strict action, blacklisting of the contractor, and urgent procurement reforms.

A fresh wave of corruption has gripped Maharashtra’s public health system, with a ₹43 crore scam now exposed in the Free School Health Check-up initiative under the National Child Health Program (RBSK). Investigations reveal deep-rooted irregularities in the vehicle procurement process, essential for conducting health screenings of schoolchildren across the state.

As per the program, mobile medical teams are supposed to visit schools using rented T-permit vehicles. However, serious violations of procurement norms, financial misconduct, and contract manipulation have come to light. According to a Sprouts News Team probe, the Department of Public Health went ahead with contract finalization even before the selected vendor submitted the mandatory vehicle list—a key eligibility requirement under tender conditions.

The procurement was executed without compliance to predefined conditions. The tender required submission of T-permit vehicle lists before finalizing agreements, but this clause was ignored. Despite glaring omissions, payments were sanctioned, raising suspicions of deliberate fraud and favoritism.

At the center of the controversy is then Deputy Director of Transport, Kailas Karale, who allegedly played a key role in bypassing standard procedures. Civic activists are now calling for strict disciplinary action against him. The Sprouts News Team has accessed internal reports confirming Karale’s direct involvement in enabling the financial misappropriation and aiding the contractor.

The contract for supplying vehicles was awarded to M/s Maharashtra Vikas Group, a private company now under fire for alleged corruption. Social workers and whistleblowers are demanding that this firm be blacklisted and subjected to a forensic audit.

Accusations include misrepresentation of compliance and receiving work orders prior to formal qualification, violating the competitive spirit of public tenders. Calls are growing louder for a full probe by anti-corruption authorities and an independent review by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

Under procurement rules, at least three technically qualified bidders must be present to proceed with financial bid openings. However, the process went ahead despite only one final bidder qualifying, violating competitive bidding norms. Initially, first and second extensions were issued, but each time only one vendor qualified—a red flag that was ignored.

Officials allegedly fabricated records to justify awarding the contract, citing urgency and the impending implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. The Sprouts News Team has learned that the work order was issued hastily, bypassing transparency and inviting concerns about kickbacks and pre-election fund misappropriation.

This scandal not only exposes flaws in public health procurement practices but also undermines the integrity of programs meant for vulnerable populations—school-going children in this case. Misuse of ₹43 crore meant for children’s health check-ups represents a severe breach of public trust and accountability.

Experts say such malpractices endanger preventive healthcare infrastructure and violate the spirit of the National Health Mission. Stakeholders now demand that audit mechanisms be strengthened, tender conditions enforced uniformly, and political interference eliminated.

The ₹43 crore scam linked to the RBSK vehicle procurement is yet another instance where systemic lapses and individual misconduct intersect to erode public faith. The role of key officials, especially from the Transport and Health Departments, must be scrutinized through a multi-agency investigation.

As this story gains traction, the Sprouts News Team urges policymakers to use this case as a benchmark for overhauling tender governance and restoring transparency in public health delivery.