Gujarat High Court Notices Surat municipal commissioner in Security Tender Scam

Surat | Gujarat — The alleged multi-crore security tender scam in the Surat Municipal Corporation has intensified after the Gujarat High Court issued notices to the Municipal Commissioner, senior civic officials and multiple private security agencies, turning the controversy into one of the biggest civic governance flashpoints in recent months.

The High Court’s intervention came after two security agencies approached the court alleging irregularities in the tender process. Summons have now been issued to the Municipal Commissioner, the Additional City Engineer (Civil) and all the agencies involved, directing them to respond on April 7.

Allegations of Forged Signatures Trigger Storm

The civic body deploys hundreds of security guards across its headquarters, zonal offices, health centres and municipal properties. However, the tender process for these contracts has come under intense scrutiny after allegations surfaced that a scam worth crores of rupees took place.

At the centre of the controversy is Chief Security Officer Jagruth Nayak, who has been accused of forging signatures in connection with three agencies during the tender process. The allegations disrupted the process for nearly 10 months, creating administrative and political ripples within the civic body.

A senior official familiar with the matter said, “The tender process remained stalled for months due to serious allegations. The High Court’s notice has now brought the issue into sharper focus.”

Contracts Awarded Before Term End

Despite the controversy, the Standing Committee recently issued work orders to seven security agencies just before the end of the civic body’s term. These include Shiv Security Service, Krishna Security Force, Bigs Support Service Pvt. Ltd., Shakti Protection Force Ltd., Sun Enterprises, R.S. Security and M.K. Security.

The decision triggered protests from competing bidders, particularly Soldier and Escort Security Agency, which had participated in the tender. The agencies wrote to the Municipal Commissioner demanding an investigation into alleged corruption and irregularities.

An industry representative said, “We demanded transparency and a fair probe. The High Court’s intervention has given hope that the truth will come out.”

High Court Summons All Stakeholders

Following the petition, the High Court issued notices not only to municipal officials but also to all seven agencies that were awarded the contracts. The summons have sparked intense debate within civic and political circles in Surat.

Legal experts say the case could have far-reaching implications for municipal tendering processes. “If the allegations are proven, it could lead to major reforms in procurement and accountability systems,” said a legal observer tracking the case.