Controversy Erupts As BJP, NCP Leaders' Company Get Food Supply Contracts For Govt-run Hostels

Controversy has arisen over the appointment of companies affiliated with ruling party MLAs. Several companies have received contracts for supplying food and milk to hostels and residential schools operated by the social justice department. Two of those companies are linked to BJP legislator Prasad Lad and NCP minister Hasan Mushrif.

The social justice department operates 93 residential schools and 443 hostels for children from underprivileged areas. These companies have won contracts to provide food and milk to them. 

The contracts are worth approximately INR 226.60 crore over a ten-month period. The payment specified in Monday's order for each student is INR 5,218 to INR 5,390 per month for the contractors. They are for providing meals to around 43,000 students residing in these institutions. The contractors are required to provide nutritious meals and milk to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian students.

Brisk India Pvt. Ltd., in a joint venture with Kailas Food and Kirana General Stores, has won the contract for Nagpur, Latur, and Amravati. This company was previously investigated by the Enforcement Directorate due to alleged connections with NCP leader Hasan Mushrif.

ब्रिक्स इंडिया कंपनी ही हसन मुश्रीफ साहेब यांच्या जावयाची बेनामी कंपनी असून या कंपनीला कोणताही अनुभव नसताना बेकायदा पद्धतीने अप्पासाहेब नलावडे साखर कारखाना चालवण्यास दिल्याचा आणि मनी लाँडरींग झाल्याचा गंभीर आरोप #मविआ सरकारच्या काळात भाजपकडून करण्यात आला होता. त्यासाठी त्यांनी… pic.twitter.com/qASCWkPLaF

— Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) November 7, 2023

The raids took place as a result of a complaint submitted by BJP politician Kirit Somaiya, who claimed that Mushrif was connected to an INR 100 crore corruption case at the Appasaheb Nalawade sugar factory in Gadhinglaj, which Brisk India Private Limited acquired in 2014. Mushrif and Ajit Pawar joined the Maharashtra administration three months ago, when Mushrif was appointed minister of medical education.

Similarly, Crystal Integrated Services Pvt. Ltd. (CISPL), which has ties with BJP MLC Prasad Lad, has won the contract for Mumbai and Pune in a joint venture with Crystal Gourmet Pvt. Ltd. CISPL was previously involved in a controversy over employing contract workers, which led to the termination of their contracts.

The awarding of these contracts has started a controversy, with NCP MLA Rohit Pawar questioning the contract given to Brisk India.