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Synopsis

The Maharashtra Government has submitted an affidavit defending its decision to award the tender project to Adani Properties Pvt. Ltd.

This affidavit was filed before the Bombay High Court in response to a petition filed by UAE-based company Seclink Technologies.

The petition challenged the tender given by the Maharashtra Government to Adani Properties Pvt. Ltd. for the redevelopment of the expansive 259-hectare Dharavi Redevelopment Project, with a value of Rs. 5069 crores.

In its affidavit, the government stated that the revised tender stipulated an additional payment of 2800 crore rupees above the bid price to the Railway Land Development Authority for the land owned by them. This step was taken to ensure proper compensation and compliance with relevant regulations.

The government's affidavit further highlighted that Adani Properties Pvt. Ltd. emerged as the highest bidder by quoting Rs. 5069 initially, and eventually offering the final bid of Rs. 7869 crore. This was in comparison to Seclink Technologies' bid of Rs. 7200 crore.

Additionally, the state government's affidavit argued that Seclink Technologies had the opportunity to meet the revised bid requirements within the new tender process.

“There is no question of excluding anyone's participation as the bids were required to be submitted afresh and the petitioner also could have submitted a bid by complying with the terms and conditions of the new tender,” the affidavit stated.

While defending the revision of the tender the state said that “Under the new tender, the selected bidder will also be required to accommodate the non-eligible slum tenements in affordable housing or under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna and pertinently such requirement was not there in the old 2018 tender,” the affidavit stated.

The state government also countered Seclink's allegation that awarding the tender to Adani resulted in a loss to the government exchequer.

Case title: Secklink Technologies vs State of Maharashtra