The New Delhi Municipal Council is considering floating a tender for a new caterer for its officers’ club a few months earlier than planned, after the recent arrest of the existing caterer by the Central Bureau of Investigation, sources said.
Earlier this month, the NDMC-run Palika Services Officers’ Institute (PSOI) was searched by the CBI, which unearthed records of alleged hawala transactions of senior government officials, money, jewellery and watches from the office of the caterer, Rakesh Tiwari. Mr. Tiwari had earlier run the canteen at the CBI HQ.
As a result, the NDMC on Monday had issued an office order transferring the general manager and manager of the club.
Next month
Senior NDMC officials with knowledge of the process said the civic body had decided to re-tender the contract for operation of the canteen.
Mr. Tiwari’s contract was valid till December 23 and the tender process would have started in a few months, an NDMC official said. However, with Mr. Tiwari’s name under the CBI lens and his subsequent arrest, the NDMC has decided to begin the process of getting a new contractor early, the official said.
A special nodal officer has been assigned to oversee the process, which may begin as early as next month, he added.
The official said that the existing contract was not terminated immediately as that would have affected the events, including weddings and birthdays, that had already been booked, and led to disruption of services for members.
The Hindu had reported on Monday that the CBI search of Mr. Tiwari’s office at the PSOI on Vinay Marg had unearthed records that indicated senior officials had been illegally transferring dollars abroad. A source said that the CBI also seized 21 luxury watches, ₹80 lakh in cash, and jewellery worth ₹1.6 crore.
