Mah govt withdraws tender awarded to company of Deshmukh's sons

New Delhi, Feb 13 (UNI) The Maharashtra goverment today gave an undertaking in the Supreme Court that it has withdrawn the tender awarded to M/S Indo Distillation Company Pvt Ltd promoted by the sons of state Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

A Bench comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and R V Raveendran set aside the judgment of Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court vide which the High Court had dismissed the petition of Shiv Tulja Sagar Limited challenging the decision of the state government to award the contract for crushing of sugar cane.

The company was promoted by Amit Deshmukh and Dheeraj Deshmukh for manufacturing and selling alcohol and petroleum products.

The company had only paid up capital of Rs one crore and the petitioners had offered Rs 65 per metric tonne for sugar cane crushing but the contract was given to M/S Indo Distillation Company Pvt Ltd who offered only Rs 44 per metric tonne and the same was accepted.

Solicitor General of India G E Vahanvati and the state Advocate General made the statement before the court that the state of Maharashtra has withdrawn its decision dated August 8, 2006 to award the Kalambar Vibhag Sahakari Sahkar Karkhana Ltd to respondent number four and the tenders will be issued afresh.

Karkhana Ltd, a sugar factory, is under liquidation.

The court accepted the statement of the government and allowed the petition of Shiv Tulja Sugar Ltd and quashed the High Court judgment dated December 14, 2006.

UNI