Probe against number plate bidder

HYDERABAD: Following allegations of frauds were levelled against a company in the bidding race for the high security number plate contract, transport minister Botcha Satyanarayana has ordered an inquiry into the history of the company.The minister said the issue was referred to a three-member committee, which would examine the case history of Shimnit Utsch, a Mumba-ibased company and a bidder for the contract of high security number plates.The decisions on awarding the contract will be made after a proper investigation by the panel, he said.Botcha said he heard that the Allahabad High Court had ordered a CBI probe into the allegations against Shimnit Utsch, among the four bidders for the contract, that the company had charged the Uttar Pradesh government 320 per cent more than the actual price and tried to secure the contract for high security number plates.The company was also denied contracts for the same in Goa, Rajasthan and Karnataka, he said. The minister said, he had asked the high level panel to probe the company's history before the opening of the financial bids