Audit questions Bihar plane deal

Patna: A year after Bihar government purchased an aircraft during President's rule, the principal accountant general (PAG) of Bihar has put a question mark on the Rs 13.23-crore deal.
The proposal to purchase a new plane was cleared by the state Cabinet during the Rabri Devi's regime. However, the deal to buy a 10-seater King Air C90 B plane was struck in August 2005 when the state was under President's rule and Buta Singh was the governor. The plane finally arrived in January this year. The PAG's audit report suggests that the new plane might be second-hand. It has also questioned the wisdom behind paying Rs 13.23 crore for a plane that is being phased out by the manufacturing company.
At a marginally higher price, the state could have purchased the superior King Air C90 GT, which is fuel-efficient and advanced than the one purchased, the report says.
The proforma invoice issued by the manufacturer was addressed to Indamer, the Indian agent, and not the state government, the report says.
03/09/06 Times of India

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