Jaipur/Tonk | Investigative Desk
A major corruption controversy has erupted inside Rajasthan’s Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) after explosive revelations exposed alleged tender manipulation, financial irregularities, and attempts to favour select contractors in rural drinking water projects worth ₹17.54 crore in Tonk district. Following sustained investigative reports by Expose Now, the department has now been forced to cancel three controversial tenders amid fears of legal consequences and administrative fallout.
The scandal has once again brought senior PHED officials under scrutiny, particularly Superintendent Engineer Ramchandra Raad, currently posted in Ajmer Circle and also holding additional charge as Additional Chief Engineer (ACE), Ajmer Region. Raad is widely considered one of the most influential engineers in the department and is believed to enjoy close proximity to PHED Minister Kanhaiyalal Choudhary.
The cancelled projects were linked to rural drinking water augmentation schemes under the Chief Minister’s Budget Announcement for Rajmahal, Botunda, Kanwarwas and Nayagaon areas in Tonk district — including regions falling within the minister’s political influence.
Tender Manipulation Allegations Trigger Administrative Panic
According to official records accessed by Expose Now, the controversial tender was floated under NIT No. 20/2025-26 with an estimated cost of ₹17.54 crore. Technical bids were opened on January 5, 2026, with six firms participating in the process, including:
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- M/s Gulab Chand Kumawat
- M/s Kumawat & Company
- M/s Nihal Chand Jain Infra Project
- M/s Om Projects
- M/s Right Water Solutions
- M/s RSC Infratech
However, investigators claim the real manipulation began after the tender process had already commenced.
On December 17, 2025, a corrigendum was allegedly issued by the Additional Chief Engineer, Ajmer Region, introducing major changes to the Bill of Quantities (BOQ), including alterations in item descriptions, units, and technical classifications.
Experts say such substantive modifications after tender publication violate the Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement (RTTP) Act, 2012 and RTTP Rules, 2013, particularly when they alter the financial structure of a tender.
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The changes allegedly created “financial ambiguity” that could have provided undue advantage to select contractors.
Duplicate Works Detected in Investigation
The controversy deepened after departmental scrutiny reportedly found duplication of works inside the same ₹17.54 crore project.
Officials discovered that several components included in the new tender had allegedly already been executed earlier on ground under previous schemes. This raised serious concerns that public funds could have been siphoned off by reintroducing completed works into fresh tenders.
Following these findings, higher authorities reportedly sought an affidavit from the ACE Ajmer office certifying the authenticity and uniqueness of the proposed works.
Sources inside PHED admitted that the department feared criminal liability if the tender process proceeded further.
‘Expose Now’ Reports Forced Authorities to Act
Departmental insiders revealed that Expose Now’s continuous investigative coverage over the last three months created significant pressure inside PHED headquarters.
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Initially, officials allegedly attempted to suppress complaints and push the projects forward. However, after internal reviews and media scrutiny intensified, the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) formally acknowledged on January 29, 2026, that the corrigendum violated procurement norms.
The matter later reached the 7th meeting of the Empowered Procurement Committee (EPC) on March 13, 2026, where serious objections were reportedly raised.
Finally, during the Finance Committee meeting held on April 27, 2026 (FC-917), the entire process was treated as a “fait accompli” situation, leaving no legal option except cancellation under Rule 72 of RTTP Rules.
The Finance Committee officially annulled all three tenders.
Show-Cause Notices and Accountability Proceedings Ordered
In a significant development, the Finance Committee has now ordered issuance of show-cause notices against all responsible engineers and officials involved in the alleged illegal modifications and procedural lapses.
The committee reportedly observed that:
- Unlawful changes in tender conditions caused unnecessary delays in Chief Minister budget announcement works.
- The irregularities created risk of cost escalation.
- Financial transparency and procurement integrity were compromised.
The committee also directed PHED officials to ensure that no component of the same work is duplicated under other schemes such as:
- Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
- AMRUT 2.0
- State-funded rural water projects
Fresh tenders will now be invited through a revised and transparent process.
Political and Administrative Questions Intensify
The controversy has now snowballed into a larger political issue because the alleged irregularities surfaced inside the PHED Minister’s own region of influence.
Questions are now being raised over whether the department will genuinely act against influential engineers or whether the matter will eventually be diluted through internal inquiries.
Critics argue that the scandal reflects a deeply entrenched nexus between bureaucrats, contractors, and procurement authorities where tender terms can allegedly be manipulated after publication to suit select firms.
Administrative experts warn that such practices not only delay public welfare schemes but also inflate project costs and damage public trust in government procurement systems.
Bigger Concern: Rural Water Projects Delayed Again
With the tenders now cancelled, the affected rural drinking water schemes face fresh delays. Villages that were expected to benefit from upgraded water infrastructure may now have to wait several more months before new bidding processes are completed.
The case has once again highlighted chronic governance failures inside PHED, where major infrastructure projects repeatedly get trapped in allegations of manipulation, delays, and financial irregularities.
As investigations continue, all eyes are now on Rajasthan’s PHED leadership and the state government to see whether strict disciplinary action follows — or whether the controversy fades into another bureaucratic file.