Tender scam drama escalates amid IPS officer’s rebuttal

In the fake tender case at the Maharashtra Police Academy (MPA), Nashik, IPS officer Rashmi Karandikar has, in her statement to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), categorically denied ever meeting the complainant, Rao Saheb Desai, rejecting any suggestion of her involvement in allegations connected to her husband, Purushottam Chavan.

- Ashish Singh

However, Desai’s statement to investigators presents a sharply different version, placing Karandikar directly in the chain of events.

According to the chargesheet filed by the EOW, Desai stated that in March 2018, Chavan told him that Karandikar was a visiting faculty at MPA. Desai claimed Chavan informed him that the academy required bulk supplies of “international-standard, high-quality fabric khaki T-shirts and olive-coloured hoodies” for the trainees, and promised to help him secure a supply contract valued at Rs60 crore.

Desai alleged that he prepared samples as instructed and delivered them to Chavan’s official residence located above the Colaba police station. He further claimed that Karandikar was present during the meeting, examined the garments, and even suggested corrections. After incorporating these changes, Desai said he supplied a complete set of samples in all sizes, which Chavan approved.