Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: Fresh corruption allegations have surfaced against the Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand, with BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo claiming that a ₹50 crore scam is being orchestrated through a manpower supply tender in the state’s health department. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Shahdeo alleged that the tender has been deliberately designed to exclude local Jharkhand-based companies while favouring a blacklisted firm from Bihar.
Tender Conditions Allegedly Favour Blacklisted Firm
Shahdeo highlighted that the Civil Surgeon-cum-CMO, Ranchi, issued an e-tender (No. 4374) on September 20, 2025, for the recruitment of nursing, paramedical, and technical staff. He alleged that the eligibility criteria were tweaked to disqualify all local companies, ensuring that only one pre-selected Bihar-based blacklisted company would qualify.
He pointed out that in comparison to the 2022 tender, eligibility norms have been inflated fivefold. The EMD (security deposit) has been increased from ₹4 lakh to ₹15 lakh, the single work order value from ₹3 crore to ₹15 crore, and the required workforce from 300 to 1,500 employees. Additionally, the company’s average annual turnover requirement has been raised from ₹5 crore to ₹25 crore. Shahdeo claimed these changes were intentionally made to benefit one specific firm previously debarred by a reputed Jharkhand university.
BJP Demands High-Level Probe
The BJP leader alleged that the government is colluding with this firm to manipulate the tender process, after which commissions would be distributed “from top to bottom.” He announced that the party would approach the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Governor with the matter. Shahdeo also demanded a high-level investigation and warned that if the government fails to act, the BJP will escalate the issue from “the streets to the assembly.”
