Rajasthan High Court Demands Action on IT Department Tender Scam Probe
The Rajasthan High Court has issued a stern directive to the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), expressing deep concern over the sluggish pace of investigation into alleged multi-crore tender irregularities within the Department of Information and Technology (DoIT). A single-judge bench, presided over by Justice Ashok Kumar Jain, has mandated the submission of a detailed progress report by February 23, 2025.
Court's Sharp Critique on Corruption Check
During the hearing on Thursday, Justice Jain delivered a pointed observation, stating that "even one per cent of corruption is not being effectively checked". This remark underscores the court's frustration with the perceived inaction in a case involving tenders awarded over the past five years. The bench emphasized that adequate time had already been granted to the ACB, yet tangible progress remained elusive.
ACB's Request for More Time Meets Judicial Scrutiny
Appearing before the court, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Anand Sharma, who leads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged scams, requested additional time to complete the investigation. The court, however, instructed Sharma to expedite the process immediately. The counsel for the petitioner, Dr. T.N. Sharma, Poonam Chand Bhandari, informed the court that despite a High Court order on September 7, 2024, directing the ACB to investigate the concerned tenders, little had been accomplished.
Bhandari detailed that the complainant had submitted 27 cases with supporting documents to both the ACB and the court. "We submitted complete facts with evidence, but ACB is not paying heed to it," he asserted. Furthermore, it was revealed that only one FIR was registered by the ACB on October 27, 2025, and even after nearly four months, the complainant's statement had not been recorded.
Court Orders Immediate Preliminary Inquiries
In response to these delays, the court issued a clear order: "Preliminary inquiries be initiated immediately into all complaints submitted by the petitioner, and reports be placed on record." This directive aims to jumpstart the investigative process and ensure accountability. The hearing pertained to a revision petition against a final report filed by the ACB in a special court concerning a disproportionate assets case involving a former DoIT officer.
The court's intervention highlights ongoing challenges in combating corruption within government departments, particularly in procurement processes. The demand for a progress report by late February sets a critical deadline for the ACB to demonstrate concrete steps in unraveling the alleged tender scams, which involve significant public funds.
