Bengaluru: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and then Bengaluru minister K.J. George swindled up to Rs 40 crore in the procurement of litter bins, alleged BJP city unit president N.R. Ramesh on Wednesday.

Mr Ramesh, armed with documents to substantiate his claims, said, "The BBMP is planning to install 200 underground bins in the city. The contract has been awarded on the basis of operation and maintenance at a cost of Rs 55.28 crore."





He alleged, "The short-term contract was awarded to Zonta Infratech Pvt Ltd, which is a part of Embassy Group, in which Mr George is a stakeholder. Though there were others like Netherland's Nexus Novas taking part in the tender quoting a lesser price, they were threatened and the contract was awarded to Zonta at the behest of Mr George. Rs 10 crore has been looted in the procurement of underground bins and Rs 4 crore in the trucks fitted with cranes. Though the company has been allotted Rs 5.12 crore to monitor the bins by attendants, no one is seen manning these."

He said a complaint has been registered with the ACB, BMTF and the Lokayukta.

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