An FIR has been filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation's anti-corruption division in Goa against a former executive director (commercial) of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on allegations of fraud, criminal conspiracy, and corruption after it was claimed that the individual provided an unjustifiable favour and assisted a business obtain the contract for advertising space at the Dabolim-based Goa International Airport.
A police report (FIR) was made against Ramendra Kumar Singh, a former executive director (commercial) of the AAI, as well as marketing company M/s TDI International India Pvt. Ltd. and an unnamed public employee (or employees).
Singh "misused his official position" to help the business get an advertising concession contract at Goa airport in 2018," according to the FIR, "along with other unknown officials of AAI." The company had a prior advertising concession deal with AAI between 2009 and 2013, the FIR states, and it owed the airport body Rs. 2.61 crore yet was handed a new contract despite this.
According to the FIR, two parties—M/s Arc Outdoor Media and the accused firm—participated in a tender that was announced in 2017 at the Dabolim Airport in Goa for the award of a master advertising contract. The latter was deemed technically disqualified after the offer was opened. According to the FIR, Arc Media was pronounced technically qualified, and the financial bid opening was set for May 26, 2017, but it was postponed on Singh's orders.
According to the FIR, a different tender was advertised, and on July 18, 2018, when bids were officially opened, the company [TDI] with unresolved debts of Rs 40 crore at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport only submitted one proposal. Additionally, it claims that its sibling company had unresolved debts of Rs. 66 lakh at the airports of Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, and Kolkata.
According to the FIR, AAI staff members discovered these "deficiencies" and advised seeking legal advice before making a decision. Singh and another official are accused of rejecting the recommendation, citing "the aspect of public interest and revenue augmentation, in violation of the RFP conditions." In December 2018, the project was given to the business.When reached, Singh stated that he retired in 2018 and is not aware that a FIR has been filed against him.
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