Arappor Iyakkam, the anti-corruption movement, has made a formal complaint to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) demanding that a case be filed against the tainted former TN Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao and Apoorva, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Medical Supplies Corporation (TNMSC), for allegedly flouting norms while awarding a major legal tender bid of Rs. 520 crore to a benami company, allegedly owned by Rao’s associates.

Jayaram Venkatesan, Convener of Arappor Iyakkam, who addressed media persons at Sasthri Bhavan, Chennai, after submitting the complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau, CBI, said that the movement has come out with prima facie evidence to prove the illegalities in awarding the tender to Padmavathi Hospitality and Facility Management Services, a partnership firm.

Arappor Iyakkam had concrete evidence to prove that the former Chief Secretary had pressurised TNMSC to award a tender of Rs. 520 crore to the partnership firm of Bhaskar Naidu Kanumuri, a friend of Vivek Pappisetty, Rao’s son.

Praying that the CBI should file a case of corruption against the senior IAS officer for criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, Arappor Iyakkam activists said that there was enough evidence that Rao had entered into a conspiracy with the conniving officials to get the tender awarded to the firm . The tender was floated by TNMSC to award a contract to the most qualified bidder for outsourcing of housekeeping and security services in 20 Medical Colleges and 37 Government Hospitals all over Tamil Nadu.

“Even though the laws clearly state that only firms and companies registered under the Indian Company Act 1956 can compete in the legal tender, it was awarded to Padmavathi Hospitality and Facility Management, which was not even registered as a company at the time of awarding the contract,” Chandra Mohan, Secretary of Arappor Iyakkam, told Covai Post.

“It was evident from our investigation and supporting documents we have produced in the complaint that the basic eligibility criteria to take part in the legal tender was changed and the deadline extended in this case,” Arappor Iyakkam activists said.

In the meanwhile, Arappor Iyakkam has also sought a thorough probe into the role played by Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijaya Bhaskar in the tender process, as they head the Department of Health and Family Welfare in the State.