Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 18: RTI activist and social activist Balvinder Singh today alleged that the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) scam continues unabated despite repeated exposures and official alerts.
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Addressing a press conference, here today, he said that the latest revelations obtained through RTI have brought to light financial irregularities in the J&K State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDCL) committed in purchases made through GeM, indicating an open loot of the public exchequer by officers entrusted with procurement responsibilities.
Explaining the modus operandi, Singh said the department cleverly manipulated the GeM process to procure items from preferred vendors at rates of their own choosing. RTI replies revealed that several items were purchased at prices 200 percent to 300 percent higher than prevailing market rates.
Citing specific examples, Singh produced invoices before the media. He stated that two Bridgestone tubeless tyres (205/65/R15) were purchased by the Deputy General Manager, JKSPDCL, vide GeM Invoice No. GEM-56817735 dated 20.03.2025 at Rs 18,000 per tyre, whereas the market price was approximately Rs 6,950, reflecting a markup of over 160 percent.
Similarly, four Apollo tubeless tyres (145/80/R12) were purchased at Rs 12,375 per tyre, while the prevailing market price was around Rs 2,800, amounting to more than 340 percent overpricing.
Singh further stated that four Apollo tubeless tyres (185/85/R16) were purchased at Rs 12,000 per tyre, despite the market price being approximately Rs 6,600. Shockingly, he added, eight days later two same tyres were again purchased through another GeM invoice dated 28.05.2025 @ Rs 18,000 per tyre, Rs 6000 higher than the previous tyre and 172 percent higher than the market rate.
Another buyer of JKSPDCL purchased 15 LAPCARE-compatible toner cartridges manufactured by Rx Infotech Private Limited at a rate of Rs 1,144.87 per unit. On the same day, he further procured two additional cartridges of the same specification, but at a different and substantially higher rate @ Rs 1,878 per unit, despite the available online market price being approximately Rs 600 to 650 per cartridge.
Balvinder Singh urged the Chief Minister of J&K to hand over the matter to the CBI for an in-depth investigation into the buyer–seller nexus. He also demanded that the ACB register FIRs against all officials involved in earlier and current GeM scams, including those in the Directorate of Health and RDD.
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