Chennai: The Madras High court has ordered notice to higher education minister and public works department on a petition, which levelled corruption charges against the minister and PWD officials in construction of buildings for polytechnic colleges in various districts.
Justice M. Duraiswamy has ordered notice to higher education minister K.P. Anbalagan and chief engineer, public works department, state government, on a petition filed by V. Vengan, Oothangarai taluk, Krishnagiri district a Class–I contractor. Vengan alleged that he refused to pay a commission of Rs 13 crore to the minister for awarding a contract in his favor. According to petitioner the chief engineer, Public Works Department Technical Education Circle, Guindy, issued a tender notification on May 8, 2017 calling for the tenders for the construction of additional buildings under phase –II for new Government Polytechnic Colleges at Madurai, Theni, Pudukottai, Villupuram,Vellore, Krishnagiri, Trichy and Erode districts. The last date for submitting the tender was June 9, 2017 at 3.00 P.M.
Tender was to be opened on the same day at 3.30 P.M. in the presence of the contractors or their agents. However, the tender was not opened. He said only prequalification bid was opened.
He prayed the court to issue a direction to the chief engineer, to open his financial bid after informing him about the date and time of opening the bid.
