BHOPAL : In order to save their skin following the Lokayukta raids on CEDMAP’s former Executive Director Jitendra Tiwari, the Industries Department mandarins are trying to get a proposal cleared by the cabinet, allowing the department to award contracts to CEDMAP without inviting tenders.
Following the raids, Tiwari had claimed that CEDMAP did not fall in the jurisdiction of Lokayukta and had got stay from the High Court on this ground.
Tiwari had said that CEDMAP had been established under the Societies Act and did not get any grant from the government. Hence, he argued, it was a private institution and the Lokayukta did not have the powers to conduct raids against it.
On one hand, Tiwari is claiming that CEDMAP does not come under the government whereas Industries Department was giving contracts to CEDMAP without inviting tenders for long. The department issued work orders to CEDMAP directly.
CEDMAP was formed to impart training to entrepreneurs but the institution was doing things not under its domain. Industries Department got the arrangements for ‘Entrepreneurs Panchayat’ in CM House made through the CEDMAP, which is not meant for organising such events.
Now the Industries Department intends to table a proposal in the cabinet to empower the Department to allocate works to CEDMAP without inviting tenders.
Industries Commissioner and CEDMAP, Executive Director, Kantarao said that no information in this regard could be given as of now. Sources said Industries Department has even stopped answering questions raised in the state Assembly related to CEDMAP.
Industries no to probe into complaints against Tiwari
Lokayukta Special Police Establishment has written to Industries Department to probe the complaints against Jitendra Tiwari. The Department has been urged to get complaints against Tiwari investigated at government level. Sources said the Department has turned down the request. The High court has also given stay in Lokayukta probe against Tiwari. This has led to whole investigation process coming to a halt.
