Chennai: After a news report in Deccan Chronicle about former Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao helping his son clinch government deals, Chennai-based anti-corruption movement, Arappor Iyakkam, has lodged a complaint with CBI here, on Monday.
The report appeared in the DC edition dated December 26. The plaint has set out as to how the terms and conditions of a Rs 520 crore worth project tender was altered so as the benami firm run by Rao’s son Vivek Pappisetty could clinche the deal.
Padmavathi Hospitality and Facility Management Services was awarded the contract for housekeeping and security services for 37 Government Hospitals and 20 medical colleges under the ambit of Directorate of Medical Education (DME). Bhaskar Naidu who is an associate of Rao’s son- Vivek Papisetty owns the firm.
“The Tamil Nadu Tender Transparency rules 2000 mandates one-month notice for tenders of value above Rs 2 crore. However, the deadline has been extended only for 11 days despite altering the basic criteria. It was also found that one of the witnesses who signed in the above contract, P. Srinivasa Rao is the brother of the former chief secretary Ram Mohan Rao, IAS. This further goes on to prove that this is a company run by Ram Mohan Rao’s very close associates and relatives,” the complaint said.
Movement’s convener Jayaram Venkatesan who had lodged a complaint noted the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines stated that altering the eligibility criteria either by relaxing or adding clauses amounts to irregularity.
The complaint also sought a probe into the role of health secretary J Radhakrishnan and minister C. Vijaya Bhaskaran in the tender process besides probing Rao.
