Why pay Rs 66 lakh to KPMG for designing website: Congress
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 14 : The Congress party on Friday asked the Kerala government to explain why service firm KPMG is being paid Rs 66 lakh to design a website of a state government organisation.
The Congress had already expressed its reservation over the selection of the international company as consultant partner for rebuilding the state in the wake of the worst flood disaster that it faced in nearly a century.
"Now with the government order of giving the job of web designing of Roots-Norka to KPMG for a whopping Rs 66 lakh, the state government should explain the relation between the government and the firm," Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said.
He also reminded them that the government had earlier said that the KPMG was doing the rebuilding of Kerala for free.
"What's more important is that the contract to redesign the website was given to KPMG, on August 17 -- the day when the state was passing through its worst ever floods," the senior Congress leader said.
"It should be noted that the job of redesigning a website was given to KPMG, when there are several state government agencies who are experts in this job.
"The state government owes an explanation on why this happened and should come clean on if there are any more contracts that has been awarded on the sly," added Chennithala.
Chennithala earlier in September had written to State Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan, who is spearheading the rebuilding operations, to first verify the numerous complaints that have surfaced against KPMG, even if their offer is free.
Chennithala said the government should instead accept the offer of the Netherlands government to help rebuild the state.
Jayarajan then had said that there was nothing binding on the state government with the KPMG and there was nothing wrong in getting a report from them for free.
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Evading arrest for months, alleged liquor smuggler arrested after he goes to Prayagraj for holy dip
Bhadohi (PTI): Like lakhs of people who thronged Prayagraj on Sunday to have a holy dip at the Sangam during the Maha Kumbh, 22-year-old Pravesh Yadav too arrived in the city to take part in the ritual bathing that many believe washes off one's sins.
However, destiny had other plans for Yadav, who was allegedly involved in liquor smuggling and had evaded arrest since July 2023, as he was apprehended by cops in the Civil Lines area of Prayagraj owing to strong police surveillance, a police official said on Sunday.
Elaborating further about the arrest, Superintendent of Police of Bhadohi Abhimanyu Manglik said that Pravesh Yadav is a resident of Alwar district of Rajasthan and was absconding for one-and-half years.
Mangalik said during the checking of vehicles on National Highway-19 on July 29, 2023, adulterated liquor meant for smuggling from Alwar to Bihar was recovered and Pradeep Yadav and Raj Domoliya were arrested from the Unj police station area in Bhadohi. However, Pravesh Yadav escaped from the spot. All are residents of Alwar district and were involved in smuggling illegal liquor in Bihar for a long time., he alleged.
A case was registered against them under sections 419 (Punishment for cheating by personation), 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 272 (Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale), 273 (Sale of noxious food or drink) and 207 (Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution) of the IPC, Excise Act and Gangster Act, police said.
The officer said that Yadav reached Prayagraj to take a holy dip but was arrested by police due to effective surveillance.
