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Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde in Rs 191-crore scam

The contract, cleared by Mr Tawde, has been put on hold
Mumbai: In fresh trouble for the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, education minister Vinod Tawde is facing allegations of irregularities in connection with awarding of a Rs 191 crore contract without inviting tenders, a charge denied by him.
The fresh allegation against a Maharashtra minister comes close on the heels of a similar charge against women and child welfare minister Pankaja Munde.
The finance department has sought a probe into the irregularities pertaining to a contract awarded by the school education department for buying fire extinguishers without e-tendering for Zilla Parishad schools across the state.
The contract, cleared by Mr Tawde, has been put on hold after the finance department objected to it. Mr Tawde, a high profile BJP member in the Devendra Fadnavis Cabinet, refuted the allegation as did Ms Munde last week about charges hurled at her by the Opposition Congress.
“Not a single rupee has been paid to contractors. We stopped the order immediately after the finance department raised objections,” Mr Tawde said on Tuesday. On February 11, the department authorised the office of the education director (Primary) to enter into a rate contract for supply of 62,105 fire extinguishers for Zilla Parishad schools.
( Source : PTI )
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