The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has collected the documents pertaining to the tender process of high security registration plates (HSRP) or number plates for vehicles. The bureau has started its probe after a special anti-corruption court directed the ACB director-general to initiate an inquiry into the alleged corruption in the Rs400-crore tender for HSRP in February end.

Ajit Singh, additional director general of ACB, said, "An SP-rank official has been appointed as the investigating officer in the case and the probe has begun. The court has directed to complete the investigation and present the report on April 21.

Sources in the ACB said that the investigating officials have collected all relevant documents related to the case and sought more details from the company concerned — Shimnit Utsch India Private Limited.

It is worth mentioning that a case was filed on February 10 in the special court (anti-corruption) against former transport minister Yunus Khan and 10 others alleging irregularities in awarding the tender for the HSRP. In the case, filed by advocate Ajay Kumar Jain on behalf of one Chandra Bihari Sharma, it was alleged that the previous Vasundhara Raje government had deliberately passed the tender of Shimnit Utsch India Private Limited.

Owner of the firm, Nitin Shah, and its director Manoj Patel, BJP leader LK Advani's personal secretary Deepak Chopra and former transport secretary SN Thanvi have been named in the case.

The complaint charged that the firm had quoted higher cost for supplying the plates. The complainant contended that such number plates could be procured at a cost of Rs200-500 per plate, but the tender was awarded to the firm at the rate of Rs1,100 per plate.

Mis ‘quoted’

Plates were provided at the rate of Rs431 in West Bengal.

While the BJP government passed the tender of Shimnit Utsch India Private Limited, which quoted the rate of Rs1,100 per plate.

DNA Correspondent/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication