Suspended IAS officer Varun Chaudhari, already under probe for alleged irregularities in a land acquisition case, faces fresh allegations from Haridwar mayor Kirann Jaisal. She has accused Chaudhari of altering eligibility norms in the tender process for the Mansa Devi ropeway project, bypassing the municipal board entirely.
“The tender was issued and modified after I assumed office on February 7, yet the board was not consulted,” said Jaisal on Saturday. She added that she was informed only when the deadline for submission was extended.
Current municipal commissioner Nandan Kumar, who took charge on February 20, confirmed that the tender had been floated and revised before his appointment. “A fresh tender will soon be floated,” he stated.
Acting on a June 3 recommendation by a government review committee, the corporation has decided to reinstate the original clause requiring a minimum of five years’ experience in ropeway operations and maintenance.
When contacted by the media, Chaudhari dismissed the claims, saying, “What was issued was an Expression of Interest (EOI), not a tender. EOIs are open invitations and do not impose strict eligibility criteria.”
Sources alleged that eligibility conditions were diluted to accommodate certain firms that would have otherwise been disqualified, raising concerns over procedural integrity.
