Goes it help to be a Babu's nephew?

AIIMS accused of violating norms in authorising the tender of a company, allegedly owned by a relative of PK Tripathi, principal secretary to Delhi CMu00a0Sheila Dikshit

In India family always comes first. Even if it's a matter of business; even if it involves bending of rules. The name of the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is in focus for allegedly indulging in corrupt practices.


Unhealthy: This is the first time AIIMS floated a tender for biomedical
waste treatment and Biotic Solutions (webshot on right) got the contract.
Pic/file pic

As per sources, the establishment illegally authorised the tender of a company for a biomedical waste project. Significantly, one of the beneficiaries is Pranav Tripathi, nephew of PK Tripathi, principal secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Sources say Pranav is co-owner of M/s Biotic Waste Solutions, the firm that was awarded the contract. Apparently, only three companies - Synergy Waste Management, Metro Bio Care and Biotic Solutions have the authorisation to treat biomedical waste in the city. The tender that cost Rs 1.25 crore, was floated around five to six months ago by AIIMS. Now here's the catch; according to the guidelines, if only one company participates in the contract then the tender should be floated thrice. Though all three companies purchased the tender, only Bio Tic bid for it.

Law, no order
"If only one company bid for the tender, then the process should beu00a0 carried out thrice. This is in the guidelines of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) too," said a senior doctor from AIIMS on the condition of anonymity.

Earlier, AIIMS used to take care of its biomedical waste internally. This was the first instance when the institute floated a tenderu00a0 for the process. Sources also pointed out that Biotic Solutions is new in the business. While Synergy Waste Management and Metro Bio Care have been around since 2002, Biotic came into the fray only in 2009.

"This is a clear case of corruption. We have been in the business for the last eight years and are aware of all the rules and regulations. How can only one company bid for the tender and get the contract?" said a senior official from Synergy Waste Management on the condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

One and only
Surprisingly, only one company out of the three fulfils the terms and conditions of the tender. It has been alleged that this might has done to give a clear edge to Biotic.

"The rules are tailor-made to suit the particular company. How is it possible that the new company fulfils all the terms and conditions of the tender, while the other two, more experienced companies, don't?" said a senior official from the Health Department.

Sources say that Pranav Tripathi is the only active partner in Biotic. "He looks after all the legal work as he gets them easily done because of his clout," said a source.

"Single bid tenders are not allowed. If it's an urgent matter, then one needs to get permission from CVC before awarding the contract to any company," said a senior official from Health Department on the condition of anonymity.

Ignorance is bliss
"It's news to me that if a single company bids for the tender, then the tender has to be floated thrice," said Dr DK Sharma, Medical Superintendent, AIIMS.

Also, one of the other two companies has taken up the matter to Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). A letter of complaint, which is exclusively with MiD DAY says: "How can a government body allot a tender to a single bidder? According to the guidelines, a firm that is bidding for a tender for the first time cannot be awarded the contract. We will also like to mention that the company is owned by a person who is a related to a senior IAS officer of Delhi Government." PK Tripathi did not respond to any calls or messages from MiD DAY.