The Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu Highways department Director General to inquire into allegations that two firms owned by a same person were getting all contracts related to the department in the state in collusion with officials. Justice K Ravichandrabaabu gave the direction on a petition by another contractor C P Senthil Kumar seeking an inquiry into the alleged fraudulent activities of the two firms registered with the department. The petitioner alleged that in the recent past all the works covered in various tenders floated by the Tamil Nadu highways department were being awarded to the particular contractors and 'genuine' contractors like him were being neglected by citing flimsy grounds. He said M Pandithurai was a partner in Rishi Enterprises, registered with the department in Coimbatore. He was also having a proprietary concern Hari Waylines and got registered with the department. Such registration by Pandithurai was a total fraudulent activity by suppression of material fact in which some officials had also colluded, the petitioner alleged. Disposing of the petition, the Judge ordered the Director General, Highways department, to consider the representation of the petitioner and pass orders on merits and in accordance with law after hearing him and Pandithurai and others. The inquiry shall be completed and final orders passed within eight weeks, he added.
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