Ravi Shankar Prasad demands "impartial" inquiry into Rs 1600-crore ambulance contract bagged by firm of JD(U) MP's son

Ravi Shankar Prasad said despite the court's warning, the ambulance contract was given to a company that has several cases of irregularities registered against it. The company is owned by JD(U) MP's son.

Patna:BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday criticised Bihar government for giving a Rs 1600-crore ambulance contract to a firm owned by JD(U) MP Chandeshwar Prasad Chandravanshi's son and demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter. Prasad said that several anomalies have been found in the company, named Pashupatinath Distributors Private Limited.

The BJP leader alleged that rules were tweaked in the tender process to award the contract to Pashupatinath Distributors Private Limited. Major companies that had applied in the tender process by quoting lower prices were ignored by the government, he said adding that the Bihar government flouted the rules and regulations to favour the company.

"The manner in which the decision has been taken raises serious questions about the safety of pregnant women and children. We expect that the government will conduct an impartial inquiry into the matter. Till the probe is conducted, the contract should be halted, " Prasad said.

He said that the government went ahead with the contract although audits revealed serious irregularities in the company. There were complaints of expired medicines and missing oxygen against the company, he said. On May 31, Bihar government gave contract to Pashupatinath Distributors Private Limited to run 2125 ambulances under emergency services across the state.

Notably, BVD and Samman Foundation had approached Patna High Court in 2022 after being declared ineligible in the tender process. The court stated that the tender process was done incorrectly and mentioned that the final decision should not be taken without the permission of the court.

Later on, the Patna High Court withdrew its order after which, Samman Foundation filed a petition in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court asked the Patna High Court to settle the matter.