Regulatory scrutiny has returned to a stalled affordable housing tender in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as the central financial crimes agency has sought access to investigation records in a Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY) project that was earlier closed by city police. The development has renewed attention on how public housing tenders are assessed, cleared and monitored in rapidly growing Tier-II cities.
Officials familiar with the matter said the agency has formally asked the city police to share the closure report and supporting documents related to the PMAY tender case registered in 2023. The police had concluded the inquiry last year after a judicial court accepted a ‘C’ summary, indicating no criminal offence was established. The renewed review is linked to an ongoing inquiry under anti-money laundering legislation, which allows parallel assessment even after local police proceedings end. The original case centred on allegations of cartelisation in a municipal tender for constructing nearly 40,000 affordable homes under the national housing programme. A senior civic official had flagged concerns that multiple bidders appeared to have coordinated their submissions. This led to a criminal complaint and a wide-ranging investigation involving contractors and intermediaries associated with the tender process.
During the police probe, the complainant later clarified that the suspicion arose because multiple bids were uploaded from the same internet protocol address. While this triggered caution within the municipal system and resulted in the cancellation of the initial awards, investigators found that the project never advanced beyond the tender stage. No construction contracts were signed, land parcels remained with the civic body, and no public funds were released. Police findings concluded that since there was no financial transaction or benefit derived by any party, the essential ingredients of fraud or cheating were absent. Based on this assessment, the case was formally closed in mid-2024. A fresh tender was subsequently issued, following revised safeguards, and housing construction is now proceeding under new allotments.
The enforcement agency’s interest, however, extends beyond contractual outcomes to examine whether any attempt at financial manipulation existed, regardless of whether losses were ultimately incurred. Searches conducted in 2023 across multiple cities had yielded digital records, bid documents and financial data that are now being re-evaluated against the police conclusions. Urban governance experts say the PMAY tender investigation highlights structural pressures facing public housing delivery. As cities race to address housing shortages while meeting sustainability and equity goals, tender design, digital transparency and inter-agency coordination become critical. Even perceived irregularities can delay projects meant for lower-income households, undermining climate-resilient and inclusive urban growth.
Civic officials have so far refrained from detailed comment, citing the need to examine records shared between agencies. The outcome of the review could influence how municipal bodies across India structure future affordable housing tenders, balancing speed of delivery with rigorous oversight. For cities like Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where PMAY remains central to inclusive urban expansion, the episode underscores the importance of systems that prevent disputes before they stall essential housing infrastructure.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar PMAY Tender Probe Reopened
