AAP files complaint with ACB to probe ‘corruption’ in Delhi govt’s bicycle distribution scheme

In the letter, addressed to the Joint Commissioner of Police, ACB, Jha, who is Vice President of AAP’s Delhi unit and Chief Whip of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, alleged that DoE officials “conspired criminally with private entities” in the tender. “The target of this scheme has been completely subverted. It has been turned into a vehicle for illicit enrichment,” the complaint said.

Further, the complaint alleged that the tender for Mountain Terrain Bicycles (MTB) was floated at an estimated Rs 6,923 per unit, even as genuine market values show that the identical tender specification MTBs can be procured at Rs 4,100 per unit. It alleged the final contract price of Rs 6,957 per unit caused a loss of Rs 36.70 crore to the state exchequer.

Jha claimed that the bidding process was manipulated by eliminating pre-bid interactions and putting in place unreasonable turnover caps, which he alleges systematically forces out the manufacturing hub in Punjab’s Ludhiana.

The contract, the complaint said, was awarded to Matta Sports Private Limited, a local sports goods trading firm, whose promoters “have openly admitted they have never manufactured or sold a single bicycle prior to this tender.” It further alleged that the originally specified model, the Hero Skyler 26T, stands discontinued with an expired trademark, and that the vendor was instead supplying a Hero Bonfire 26T variant with substandard wheel rims, tyres, pedal cranks and brake assemblies.

Jha requested the registration of an FIR for offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct by public servants against DoE officials, Matta Sports and sister concerns, as well as a targeted investigation into the alleged role of the Education Minister. He also requested the seizure of all digital and physical tender records.

Sood had earlier accused the AAP of changing its allegations and putting out fluctuating figures regarding the procurement. He said that AAP had initially alleged a 70 per cent commission on August 3, followed by a claim of 40 per cent commission, or a Rs 36 crore loss out of an alleged 90 crore scam, on August 6. On August 7, the figures were revised to 43 per cent and 66 per cent, while on August 8, the party claimed a 75 per cent commission, the minister said.