CMO under fire for ‘dubious’ rules, tender distribution

Mumbai: Targeting chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s Office (CMO), former ally and Member of Parliament Raju Shetti has alleged a scam by the Information Technology department in the implementation of the state farm-loan waiver scheme.

“The OSD (Officer on Special Duty) in the CMO Kaustubh Dhavase is involved in this scam. This work has been outsourced to one private company. Mr Dhavase is closely related to this company. He should come clear about his relations with this company,” Mr Shetti alleged.

According to Mr Shetti, software-related work in the loan waiver scheme has been given to ‘Innowave’ company.

The Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) chief spokesperson Nawab Malik also repeated the allegations and called Mr Dhavase ‘Digital Dalal.’ Meanwhile, the state government has rejected all allegations and called it politically motivated.

This is the first time during the three-year-old Fadnavis government that an officer from the CMO has come under fire from political opponents.

However, state information technology secretary Vijaykumar Gautam completely rejected the charges. “The tendering process is completely followed. Detailed DPR was prepared by Ernst and Young company. High power committee headed by chief secretary and other secretaries also being members have approved L1 bid (the lowest bid) after following all rules,” Mr Gautam said in a press release.

Mr Shetti said the tender process while outsourcing work to Innowave was dubious. “According to our information, Mr Dhavase is looking into the issue and his role is dubious. CM Fadnavis should clarify the issue,” said Mr Shetti.

Former CM Prithviraj Chavan also supported Mr Shetti’s views. “I do not have details of the issue. But Mr Shetti is a serious and reputed politician. If he has said (it), so then it must be true,” he said.