Daman and Diu MP Moves SC for SIT Probe into ₹33 Crore Secretariat Building Irregularities

New Delhi, 6 September 2025 – Umeshbhai Babubhai Patel, Member of Parliament for Daman and Diu, has filed a petition under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution in the Supreme Court, urging the formation of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe alleged financial irregularities involving nearly ₹33 crore in the renovation, demolition, and restoration of the Union Territory Secretariat building at Moti Daman. Patel has also requested the Court's direct oversight of the investigation and demanded that an FIR be registered through the central government.LawBeatLegally Speaking

Detailed Timeline of Concerned Tendering Activities

According to the petition:

• October 2020: A tender was floated by the PWD’s Executive Engineer (Works Division No. 1) for renovation of the Secretariat building at an estimated cost of ₹20.34 crore.LawBeat

• September 2022: A separate tender was issued for demolition of the front portion of the same building, valued at approximately ₹3.79 lakh.LawBeat

• September 2023: A third tender was floated for restoration and renovation of the front facade, with an estimated outlay of ₹12.58 crore.LawBeat

Despite these substantial expenses, the building ultimately looked the same as it had after the first renovation, resulting in what the petition describes as “no net value addition”—thus implying a total waste of nearly ₹33 crore.LawBeatibcworldnews.com

Pre-Litigation Actions Taken by the MP

Prior to approaching the Supreme Court, MP Patel lodged complaints with:

• Lokpal of India in April 2025, naming key officials—UT Administrator Praful Khoda Patel, Finance Secretary Gaurav Singh Rajawat, and Collector Saurabh Mishra—for alleged public fund misuse.LawBeatLegally Speaking

• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in March 2025.LawBeatLegally Speaking

Following these, the Lokpal directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry. In its August 2025 report, the CBI acknowledged that the public exchequer had indeed suffered financial loss but did not assign culpability to any of the named officials. Consequently, on 21 August 2025, a bench led by former SC Judge Justice A.M. Khanwilkar closed the case against the officials, while explicitly recording that the government incurred financial loss.LawBeatLegally Speaking

Legal Arguments and Stakes

In the Supreme Court petition, Patel contends:

• No substantive outcome came of the three tenders spanning 2020–2023, meaning public funds were wasted.

• Lack of action by both the central government and Lokpal signals a failure in accountability and governance.

• As the UT administration is under direct central control, the Union must not remain a passive observer in the face of large-scale financial misappropriation.

• Reliance on Vineet Narain v. Union of India precedent, the MP seeks a continuing mandamus from the Supreme Court to ensure an independent, transparent SIT-led investigation.LawBeat

Respondents Named in the Case

The petition lists the following as respondents:

• Union Government

• Administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

• Secretariat at Moti Daman

• CBILegally Speaking

What’s Next?

The Supreme Court has yet to schedule a hearing date for the petition, but if granted, it could bring judicial-clamped oversight to the probe—potentially leading to FIR registration and strengthening accountability mechanisms in public works.

Summary Table: Key Facts