Bedsheet Scam: How can the Quality of Bedsheets be Compromised?

This is #Railwhispers further trailing #investigation into the Bedsheet-Scam of South Central Railway (#SCR), where 1,20,000 Nos. #Bedsheets procured through #GEM Contract No. GEMC- 511687723317185 dated 21st July 2023 placed by Principal Chief Material Manager (#PCMM) of SCR on M/s. #Bunkar Jatiy Hatkharga Sahkari Samiti Ltd, Kanpur.

Though #Railwhispers repeated tweets and posts were made, highlighting the discrepancies in receipt of the material’s worth crores of rupees of public money, proving the #quality and #quantity being compromised by #DyCMM/#Mettuguda Depot of #Secunderabad, proactive action is yet to been taken by any investigation agencies so far to #safeguard taxpayers’ money.

Ambiguous amendment in change of Inspection Clause:

If a glance of the #GEM order is seen, it clearly emphasises the #inspection to be conducted by M/s. #RITES Ltd. (which is an #IndianRailways’ under subsidiary company). M/s. RITES Ltd. have been conducting inspection from decades and for any rejections suitable fixing of responsibilities are done, so that in future they do not occur.

However, from #Noting of the file (#uploaded), it can be noted that Mr. #AjayKumarRanjan, #DyCMM/Gen/SCR is controlling the actions required in connivance with Mr. #AKSrivastava, PCMM/SCR, even though GEM contracts valuing over Rs. 4.00 Crores lies on the recommendations of a #CMM and approved by #PCMM.

In the #Note no. 104, a lot has been written just to #confuse any investigation agency by highlighting #crisis of materials reported by #CRSE in June, 2023. If deeper investigation is made, we understand that PCMM/SCR had made 2 Single #Tender purchases for 60,000 bed sheets from a #Madurai based textile firm with #consignee inspection worth over Rs. 2.00 crores not just to show their response to the so-called #urgency expressed, but without making any market survey. Though the bed sheets supplied were #substandard, it was an eye wash for personal gains.

Thus, bringing the urgency factor of CRSE is just to #misguide and #hoodwink any agency investigating this #scam.

Secondly, pinpointing that M/s. RITES Ltd. is not durable is simply astonishing. How can an Indian Railway’s #subsidiary (Govt undertaking) be made #unfit for conducting inspections and a pick & choose #private-agency to conduct inspection i.e. M/s. #Intertek India Pvt. Ltd.?

Now, as we have mentioned above, the #nexus between #DyCMM/Gen/SCR and #PCMM/SCR goes deeper. Please see note no. 107, where a looking after #CMM writes that “as instructed by PCMM on firm’s request letter #TPI inspection is required to be modified”.

Role of PCMM/SCR and his #justification to accept DyCMM/Gen/SCR’s pick and choose inspection agency, even though there are 2 other private inspection agencies.

Mr. A. K. Srivastava PCMM/SCR in his note no. 108, opens that, “he was provided bed sheets in #Train no. 17603 1st AC coach with the year of #manufacturing as 2015 recently”. If this is correct, what happened to all the bedsheets procured annually during the last 8 years? The #warranty of #handloom-bedsheets once put in use is One year only, taking into consideration the daily #washing, #ironing and #wear and #tear.

Though Mr. A. K. Srivastava, PCMM/SCR in his note no. 108 mentions that, “Railway subsidiary i.e. M/s. RITES Ltd. are revamping their infrastructure, but there is no clarity or any connecting evidence is attached to substantiate this claim”. Further, he states to CMM that, “the inspection is required to be modified to TPI, which the CMM had recommended, but some other game plan existed”.

Thus, it can be proved beyond #doubt that the #connivance of Mr. Ajay Kumar Ranjan, Dy. CMM/Gen/SCR with Mr. A. K. Srivastava, PCMM/SCR is beyond doubt and the eye of suspicion for any illegal monetary gains cannot be ruled out, else the workload of other 2 private inspection agencies approved by #RailwayBoard or M/s. RITES Ltd., should have been taken care of or considered nor any specific confirmation was taken from these inspection agencies regretting to conduct inspection.

It is now upon #CVC and #CBI to investigate this #nexus and #safeguard public-money and retrieve any illegal gratifications made by the #vendor to the officials of #SCR involved in this #Scam. To continue..