PANAJI
The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) – Goa has booked a former executive director (commercials) of Airport Authority of India (AAP) on charges of cheating the government and criminally conspiring with a private firm to award an advertising concession contract at Dabolim airport.
The First Information Report (FIR) registered against the ex-ED Ramendra Kumar Singh - now retired - also has made M/s TDI International India Pvt. Ltd, a second accused, as it not only owes the AAI Goa Rs 2.61 crore approx but its concerned team also conspired with the government officer to secure a fresh contract.
“Based on the Preliminary Enquiry registered by CBI Goa on May 9, 2022 against M/s Travel Food and Services Pvt Ltd, M/s TDI International India Ltd and unknown public servants of AAI, that from the previous advertising concession contract of TDI with AAI for the year 2009 to 2013, there remained an outstanding of Rs 2,61,11,285 which TDI still owes to the AAI Goa. In spite of these heavy dues, the AAI has again awarded the fresh contract to TDI,” reads the FIR copy.
The FIR explains that in 2017, a tender was floated at the airport for award of master advertising contract and two parties M/s Arc Outdoor Media and M/s TDI participated.
After the bid’s opening, M/s TDI was declared technically disqualified while M/s Arc had qualified with the bid opening scheduled on May 26, 2017.
However, the financial bid was not opened but kept in abeyance by Singh.
Subsequently, another tender was floated, and during the opening of bids on July 18, 2018, only one bid was received from M/s TDI.
This company had undisputed dues of Rs 40 crore at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport, Kolkata whereas its sister concern company had undisputed dues of Rs 66 lakh at Thiruvananthapuram Airport, and at Chennai and Kolkata airports.
“These deficiencies were identified by the staff of AAI Goa and pointed out to Singh for appropriate directions...However Singh and Anuj Agarwal (late), the then Member (HR) collectively overruled this recommendation citing, the aspect of public interest and revenue augmentation, in violation of the RFP conditions,” it said.
The company was thereafter granted fresh contract despite gross illegality, which prompted CBI to register FIR against two identified accused and some unknown persons.
