Panaji: The United Goans Foundation (UGF) has demanded the immediate registration of an FIR, a forensic investigation and suspension of GIDC Managing Director Pravimal Abhishek Polumatla, IAS, alleging serious manipulation of government e-tender records in the nearly
30-crore Smart Water Metering tender.

UGF has alleged that official records relating to Tender ID 2026_GIDCo_27985_1, downloaded from the government e-Procurement portal at different points in time, show material changes in bidder status, tender chronology, financial bid-opening details and the overall tender-process status.

According to UGF, the relevant electronic records carry the authenticated digital identity/signature of the GIDC Managing Director. The Foundation has therefore demanded immediate preservation of the original audit trail, metadata, login records, version history and timestamps to ensure that crucial electronic evidence is not overwritten, altered or destroyed.

Six-Minute Tender Sequence Raises Questions

UGF has pointed to what it described as a highly questionable six-minute sequence on April 22, 2026.

According to the Foundation, the government portal showed four bidders as technically accepted at 2.29 pm, while the financial bids of all four were opened at 2.35 pm.

UGF claimed that two bidders were subsequently recorded as technically disqualified, with the opening of their financial bids reportedly being described as an
administrative oversight
.

The organisation has demanded an investigation into how financial bids could have been opened before the technical position of the bidders was finally settled and whether knowledge of the commercial bids influenced subsequent decisions in the tender process.

GSIA Members
Role Must Be Probed: UGF

UGF has also sought an investigation into the role of representatives of the Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) on the tender evaluation committee.

It claimed that the approved committee composition provided for three GIDC members and two GSIA nominees, while the committee minutes allegedly recorded six members, including an additional GSIA representative, without any disclosed approval for such a change.

UGF named GSIA President Pradip Da Costa, Vice-President Nitin Narainrao Dessai and Executive Member Anirudh Dempo in its complaint and demanded scrutiny of their role in the tender process, particularly the alleged presence of an additional GSIA representative.

The Foundation said the same GSIA members who had earlier come forward in defence of the GIDC Managing Director must now answer questions surrounding the tender evaluation process.

UGF Flags Potential Loss of Over
16 Crore

UGF further alleged that official BOQ records uploaded on the tender website showed Storm Energy Solutions as L1 with a bid of around
22.98 crore, while Laxmi Civil Engineering Services had quoted approximately
39.99 crore.

The contract was subsequently reportedly negotiated and finalised with Laxmi Civil Engineering Services for around
30 crore, leaving a difference of more than
7 crore compared to the stated L1 offer, UGF claimed.

The Foundation has raised an even more serious allegation regarding another bidder who, according to it, was among the four technically qualified bidders on April 22 but was subsequently treated as technically disqualified.

UGF said it possesses contemporaneous material, including a WhatsApp communication attributed to Goa Football Association President Dr Caitano Jose Fernandes, suggesting that this bidder had quoted approximately
14 crore.

UGF stressed that this figure must be verified from the original electronic bid records. If established, it said, the difference between that bid and the final contract value could exceed
16 crore.

FIR, Not Another Departmental Inquiry

Rejecting the possibility of merely an internal or departmental inquiry, UGF has demanded criminal investigation against every person found involved.

It has called for the immediate suspension of the GIDC MD from all procurement and tender-related duties pending investigation, cancellation of the Smart Water Metering tender and forensic examination of the complete government e-tender audit trail.

UGF has also demanded investigation into the alleged alteration of electronic government records, the constitution and functioning of the GIDC-GSIA evaluation committee, the L1-L2 process, negotiations leading to the award of the contract and the role of the eventual beneficiary.

The Foundation has further sought determination and recovery of any loss caused to the public exchequer from those found responsible.

UGF also demanded a wider audit of the sanctity and security of Goa
e-tender system, arguing that the allegations raise concerns extending beyond a single tender.

UGF Challenges Minister, GIDC Chairman to Public Debate

UGF has challenged Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho, GIDC Chairman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and the concerned GSIA representatives to an open public debate on the alleged irregularities.

The Government
own e-Tender records are raising the questions. Preserve the records, conduct the forensic investigation and let the evidence speak,
UGF said.

The organisation said it would pursue the matter before all competent authorities and, if required, approach the courts until the allegations are independently investigated and accountability is fixed.

UGF also thanked Dr Caitano Jose Fernandes for raising concerns about the issue in a GSIA WhatsApp group, saying the information helped the Foundation pursue its investigation.

UGF maintained that every person found responsible
whether a public servant, committee member, industry representative or private beneficiary
should face prosecution in accordance with law.