Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 5: Leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, on Monday accused the Congress-led state government of engaging in large-scale corruption by awarding tenders through illegal procedures and favouring select firms.

Addressing reporters at the Vidhana Soudha, Narayanaswamy alleged that tenders floated by the government on the Karnataka Public Procurement Portal were being manipulated to benefit specific entities. “During our tenure, the cost for printing a marks card was fixed at Rs 9.45. However, under the current government, the Para-Medical Board called a tender quoting Rs 100 per card. After backlash, this was reduced to Rs 91, and later again revised to Rs 44 per marks card, Rs 47 for diploma certificates, and Rs 44 for internship certificates,” he said.

He pointed out that a work order for these rates was issued on November 29, 2023, in favour of Urdhva Management Private Limited, based in Sanjaynagar, Bengaluru. “Shockingly, the financial bid for this work was approved only on April 12, 2024, more than four months after the work order was issued,” he alleged.

Narayanaswamy said he had written to the government secretary on January 8 highlighting violations of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, but had received no response. He displayed letters and supporting documents to the media.

He claimed that Urdhva Management is an event management firm with no experience in printing and alleged that its director, Venkatareddy D Patil, is either a close relative or associate of medical education minister Sharanprakash Patil. “This is a blacklisted firm with nearly 25 cases registered against it. Yet, the government handed over this contract without even finalising the financial bid,” he said.

Questioning the rationale behind awarding the tender, Narayanaswamy said, “When we issued the contract at Rs 9.45 per marks card, the total came to Rs 2.45 lac. In this case, the number of certificates to be printed hasn't even been specified, which opens the door to arbitrary invoicing.”

He also alleged a complete lack of transparency and accountability. “Despite writing multiple letters to the chief secretary and the concerned department, I have received no reply. This clearly shows that the government is trying to cover up a scam,” he added.

The issue, Narayanaswamy stressed, falls under the jurisdiction of minister Sharanprakash Patil, and urged for a thorough investigation into the tender process.