Corruption Allegations Rock Bihar’s Kosi-Mechi Canal Project; Former MP Seeks CBI Probe

New Delhi: A high-profile complaint has been filed by former Member of Parliament and MLA, Dr. Suraj Mandal, alleging serious misconduct, corruption, and collusion in the tender process for the Kosi-Mechi Intra-State Link Project in Bihar. The complaint, submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Prime Minister’s Office, and Bihar Vigilance Bureau, accuses Shri Santosh Kumar Mal, IAS, Principal Secretary of the Irrigation Department, of supervising a flawed and biased evaluation process.

Dr. Mandal, who also heads the All India Ex-MP Association, has flagged irregularities in Tender No. 106149 dated July 2, 2025, for the remodelling of the Eastern Kosi Main Canal. He argues that the tender violated General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017 and the Works Manual 2019, undermining transparency and accountability in a project involving significant public expenditure.

Key Allegations

According to the complaint, the Technical Evaluation Committee, functioning under Mal’s supervision:

• Arbitrarily disqualified eligible bidders without justification.
• Allowed non-compliant bidders who misrepresented facts to remain in the process.
• Opened technical bids on a gazetted holiday without prior notice.
• Relied on undisclosed evaluation criteria, outside the tender terms.
• Ignored objections about bidders’ criminal and financial irregularities until after financial bids were opened.

Dr. Mandal contends that these actions reveal “bias, collusion, and mala fide intent” and facilitated the award of the contract to a favoured company. He further points to similar complaints in the Western Kosi Canal Project, suggesting a “systemic pattern” of misconduct.

The complaint seeks immediate preservation of all tender and evaluation records, a time-bound vigilance inquiry, and referral of the case to the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. It also calls for debarment of bidders who concealed facts, transfer of implicated officials from sensitive posts, and protection for whistleblowers.

Supporting documents cited include tender notices, evaluation sheets, rejection notes, and evidence that bids were opened on a holiday.

If proven, the allegations could have far-reaching consequences for Bihar’s irrigation sector and raise questions over procurement integrity in large-scale public projects. The complaint has been marked to top officials including the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Central Vigilance Commissioner, and Bihar Chief Minister, underlining its gravity.