NMMC fails to provide evidence in support of its notice to a contractor over alleged subletting of civic

NAVI MUMBAI: Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) found no substantial evidence that Ajwani Infrastructure Pvt Ltd had sublet a road-concreting contract, city engineer Shirish Aradwad said after the contractor responded to a notice seeking clarification. The notice followed a complaint by Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) Navi Mumbai district president and former BJP corporator Bharat Jadhav. Tender conditions prohibit subletting.

Ajwani Infrastructure sought evidence supporting the allegation, including Jadhav’s written complaint. A company spokesperson said the allegations were baseless and the notice did not include the complaint or related proof. Meanwhile, Aradwad gave a clean chit to the company.

Aradwad said verification of Jadhav’s claim found no evidence to blame the contractor for subletting. He said the reputed firm might have employed consultants, labour contractors, engineers or subcontractors as a normal practice to execute the work. Jadhav’s demand for a high-level inquiry had prompted NMMC to issue the notice, he added.

Jadhav said he had submitted to NMMC commissioner and city engineer an audio recording of a conversation between the alleged subcontractor and a local journalist besides media reports. He maintained that the recording was sufficient evidence that the work had been sublet.