A tender for the municipal corporation's Disneyland fair in Motihari, in East Champaran, has triggered a fresh controversy that locals are already comparing to the much-discussed Rishu Shri tender scam. The core question is simple but striking: how did the amount flowing into the corporation's coffers shrink to less than a quarter in just one year, even though the same fair is now being held for a longer stretch?
The Numbers That Don't Add Up
At the heart of the dispute lies the gap between two years of tender figures. According to former councillor Mani Bhushan Srivastava, in 2025 the fair ran for 30 days and its contract was finalised at ₹54 lakh 25 thousand. This time, however, the very same fair is being held for a full 41 days, yet its tender was awarded for only ₹14 lakh 62 thousand 500.
Srivastava's reasoning is straightforward. When the duration of the event went up from 30 days to 41 days, the revenue should logically have risen rather than fallen. In his view this does not look like the outcome of a normal tender process, and full transparency is essential in the matter.
Allegations of Collusion and Middlemen
The former councillor openly suspects that officials, elected representatives and alleged middlemen may have colluded in the entire process. He claims the tender was deliberately influenced to benefit a select few, leaving the municipal corporation to bear the direct cost of a loss running into lakhs of rupees.
Bigger Questions Over Crore-Worth Schemes
Srivastava did not confine the issue to a single fair. He pointed out that development schemes worth crores of rupees from the central and state governments are running through the municipal corporation. If the very fairness of the tendering process is in doubt, he argues, that is an extremely serious concern. He warned that if this case is not investigated, similar irregularities could surface in other schemes as well.
Commissioner's Silence Fuels Speculation
On the other side, Municipal Commissioner Ashish Kumar did acknowledge that the entire process was carried out through tender. However, he declined to say anything in detail about the issue in front of the camera. That very silence has added more fuel to the controversy.
For now, the city is abuzz with all kinds of talk about the contract, with residents repeatedly questioning the transparency of the tender process. At the same time, it is equally important to note that none of the allegations made so far have been officially confirmed.
