Rs 27 lakh UP dustbin scam: Rs 14,000 paid per bin against Rs 3,400 market price

A case has been registered against 12 people, including two former and current Nagar Panchayat chairpersons, government officials and contractors, over alleged irregularities in the purchase of dustbins worth Rs 27.36 lakh in Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj district.The case relates to the purchase of 200 dustbins by the Ghughli Nagar Panchayat in 2018. An investigation has flagged irregularities in the tender process and alleged that the civic body paid several times the prevailing market price for the dustbins.According to the FIR, the tender for the purchase was issued in 2018, but the bidding process allegedly did not follow prescribed rules and government orders. Only four days were given for submitting bids, raising questions over the transparency of the process.The complaint alleges that the purchase order was issued at inflated rates, causing a loss to the government exchequer. A total of Rs 27.36 lakh was paid for the dustbins. DUSTBINS BOUGHT AT MUCH HIGHER RATESOne of the key findings of the investigation concerns the difference between the tender rates and the prices at which the dustbins were available in the local market.The 100-litre dustbins were reportedly available for Rs 2,400 to Rs 3,400 each. However, the rate approved in the tender was as high as Rs 14,160 per unit. The payment was made in two instalments of Rs 13.68 lakh each, on May 20, 2023, and August 21, 2023, taking the total to Rs 27.36 lakh.The investigation flagged this difference as one of the major irregularities in the procurement process.TWO CHAIRPERSONS, OFFICIALS AND FIRMS NAMEDFormer Ghughli Nagar Panchayat chairperson Urmila Devi, former executive officer Shivkumar Mishra and former clerk Heer Prasad are among those named in the FIR. Santosh Jaiswal and other accused have also been named. Urmila Devi was the chairperson when the tender was issued in 2018.The 12 accused include two Nagar Panchayat chairpersons, representatives of three firms and seven officials.The tender was issued during the tenure of the then chairperson, while the payment was made during the tenure of the current chairperson. The role of officials involved in the tendering, purchase and payment processes is also being examined.FIR REGISTERED AFTER GOVERNMENT-ORDERED PROBEThe case followed a complaint received at the government level, after which an inquiry was conducted. The investigation report pointed to irregularities in the tender process, price determination, purchase and payment.After the government granted permission for prosecution, an FIR was registered on October 28, 2026. Further action will depend on the findings of the probe.- Ends(With inputs from Amitesh Tripathi)