Congress’s candle light press conference in Bhopal: Allegation of taxi scam in School Education Department, Innova fare given in the name of Scorpio

Congress has alleged vehicle bill scam in the school education department. Party leaders said, ‘There was fraud in the bills of six vehicles used for the staff of the then departmental minister Inder Singh Parmar. Rs 8,62,236 were paid for a vehicle in 13 months. The name of this vehicle is Maruti Ciaz and registration number MP04-CW-9950 is registered in the State Education Centre. After inquiring with the Transport Department, this registration number was allotted to Hyundai Creta. Not only this, a total of Rs 17,92,133 was paid in 11 months to another vehicle allotted in the name of the minister.

Congress Media Department Chairman KK Mishra held a press conference at PCC on Wednesday. In-charge of department-cells JP Dhanopia and state president of RTI cell Punit Tandon were also involved. The special thing was that these leaders kept their bar by candle light when there was no electricity.

Congress leader Punit Tandon said that he has obtained information about the vehicles from the State Education Center and Transport Department (RTO) under Right to Information (RTI). Discrepancies have been found in the names of 6 vehicles.

Case 1: The vehicle MP04-ZK-4477 provided to the staff of the School Education Minister has been registered by the State Education Center as Maruti Ciaz in its records. In the information sought from the Transport Department in RTI, it was told that this vehicle is not registered in the Transport Department. Rs 64,352 were paid as rent from June 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.

Case 2: Vehicle number MP04-CA-9529 is allotted to the administration room at the State Education Centre. Its owner was paid Rs 2,25,057 in 6 months. Congress has lodged an objection that this vehicle was described as Maruti Swift Dezire whereas it is registered with the name Maruti 800 in the Transport Department.

Case 3: The department has recorded the name of the vehicle as Maruti Ciaz in the bill MP04-CW-9950. In the transport department, this vehicle was described as Creta car of Hyundai company. The bill for this vehicle was paid for 13 months for Rs 8,62,236.

Case 4: A total of Rs 17,92,133 was paid in 11 months to Innova Crysta number MP04-BC-7755 allotted in the name of School Education Minister. As per the contract, a monthly rent of Rs 75,000 and extra mileage of Rs 18.50 per kilometer was paid for this vehicle.

Case 5: Another vehicle attached to the minister’s staff is Innova Crysta with number MP04-BC-7480. When it was also investigated in the transport department, it turned out to be a Scorpio. One month’s rent for this vehicle was Rs 1,80,628 from April 1, 2023 to April 30, 2023.

Case 6: An amount of Rs 3,92,076 was paid for 2 months for another allotted vehicle Innova Crysta serial number MP04-ZH-5566 in the name of School Education Minister. This vehicle is registered on private quota in the transport department.

JP Dhanopia, in-charge of Congress departments and cells, said- Corruption is rampant in MP. Fake payments worth lakhs have been made by installing vehicles in government departments. Corruption worth crores has taken place in the school education department alone. This should be investigated.

State President of Congress RTI Cell, Punit Tandon says that after the Health Department, now the corruption of the School Education Department has come to light. We will complain to Lokayukta with evidence. If necessary, we will also go to court.