Corruption in Province 2: Irregularities by the Chief Minister in his own campaign

Preliminary investigation by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has found that the state government, which had purchased bicycles worth Rs 190 million in three years, had different prices for the same type of bicycle in the procurement process.

The commission's investigation has found irregularities in the bicycles purchased to encourage community school girls in State 2 to study.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority has started the second phase of investigation after a preliminary study showed irregularities in the purchase of bicycles.

The state government has been running the program 'Chief Minister,s Save Daughter , Teach Daughter' for three years. Under this, the government has been providing bicycles to the students studying in the community schools of the state.

The Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers has procured 27,262 bicycles in two phases at a cost of Rs 195.4 million. Although the same type of bicycle is purchased in both the stages, the price is different.

It has been three years since the campaign ' 'Chief Minister,s Save Daughter , Teach Daughter' ' for the protection, education and empowerment of daughters in the state. Under this campaign, bicycles have been distributed to the students studying in class 8 in community schools in eight districts.

For this, the Office of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers has purchased 27 thousand 262 bicycles in two phases at a cost of 195.4 million. Although the same type of bicycle is purchased in both the stages, the price is different. It has been alleged that 21.4 million rupees has been misappropriated by showing a purchase price of Rs 2,014 more per bicycle in the second phase than in the first phase.

According to the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, the price of a bicycle was Rs. 6,432 when purchased for the first time. 8 thousand 446 has been paid for the second time.

The state government has paid Rs. 111,029,958 for 17 thousand 262 bicycles in the first lot and Rs. 844,67,500 for 10,000 bicycles in the second lot.

At the same time, the procurement process has also shown suspicion of irregularities. The Office of the Chief Minister and the Office of the Council of Ministers had invited tenders for the purchase of bicycles. However, later research has shown that the supplier bought directly from Indian suppliers.

A team from the Bardibas office of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had raided the office of the Chief Minister of Province 2 on September 29 after receiving complaints of irregularities in the purchase of bicycles. The commission seized the documents and began an investigation.

The Bardibas office of the commission has stated that irregularities were found in the preliminary investigation. Authorities have now launched a second phase of investigation to register the case.

Chief of the Commission's Bardibas office Krishna Prasad Sapkota said that irregularities were found in the first phase of the investigation into the purchase of bicycles. He said that the second phase of the investigation was started after irregularities were found in the first phase. According to him, the detailed investigation will now focus on the identities and roles of the people involved in the procurement process.