From ₹5 sanitizer to ₹11,800 LED bulbs: Why Madhya Pradesh civic purchases face Lokayukta scrutiny

The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta has launched an inquiry into alleged irregularities in purchases worth nearly ₹1,134 crore from the urban local bodies after the IAS officer’s warning video went viral. Footage from the Urban Administration and Development meeting in April showed Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey highlighting the extreme price differences of the same products purchased by different civic bodies.

Sanjay Dubey explains the viral video

Reacting to the clip that went viral on social media, Sanjay Dubey clarified its context. “At the Municipal Administration Department, we try to call officials every six months to explain our expectations to ensure the quality of their work and train them in new techniques. The video that has emerged is an excerpt from a training session attended by all municipal commissioners, CMOs, sub-engineers and other officials. They have been briefed on how we monitor their various activities and instructed not to engage in any adverse consequences for them that would they could also engage in any irregularities against the government.” image or lead to excessive spending,” he said.

In the same meeting, Dubey told the officials that the department was already closely monitoring the purchases. “I tell you where, for how much, what was bought and at what prices you are buying. We know all that very well,” he said. He added, “Now don’t assume we can’t see what you’re doing.” He further warned, “I didn’t pay so much attention to it last year, but from this year, it will not be pardoned. Let me make it very clear to you,” stating, “If you make such a mistake, action will definitely be taken against you.”

Shocking price differences for everyday items

The analysis presented at the meeting revealed significant differences. A civic association purchased a phenolic disinfectant ₹5 liter while another recorded ₹33,500 for the same product. The cost of a garbage truck ₹2 million in one municipality and ₹6 lakhs in another, with only four extra bins added. Sanjay Dubey claimed that some officials “just added four dustbins and pocketed the money”.

A 60W LED light was purchased ₹306 by one body, while the Bhopal order put it at ₹11,800 for the light. Dubey called the higher value an “extreme outlier beyond the upper bound” and noted that the median price was around ₹4,000. “I’m not even asking you to shop for the lowest lowest price,” he said.

Potential savings in the amount of ₹250 crores on GeM alone

The presentation estimated that the state could save ₹250 crore on government purchases in the e-market if the items were bought closer to average prices. “If we only bought items at the average price, not even the lowest price, we would save ₹250 crore only on GeM, nowhere else,” Dubey said.The review covered expenditure on garbage dumpers, street lights, octagonal poles and disinfectants at around 1,200 vendors.Jabalpur was the biggest spender.

The Lokayukta probe is expected to examine purchase orders, invoices and vendor details. Civic officials now face closer scrutiny of how public funds were spent on essential items such as lights, vehicles and disinfectants.