The Telangana government has landed in a controversy over its selection of Meinhardt Group, a Singapore-based firm, for the Musi Riverfront Development Project.
Published Nov 01, 2024 | 10:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 01, 2024 | 4:46 PM
Singapore-based Meinhardt Group has found itself embroiled in a controversy in Telangana and the BRS alleges the Congress regime of dealing with a 'notorious company'.
The Telangana government is facing a controversy over its selection of Meinhardt Group, a Singapore-based firm, for the Musi Riverfront Development Project.
Principal Opposition BRS in the state is alleging lack of transparency and raised concerns about the past legal troubles that Meinhardt had in Pakistan.
However, the government maintains that it followed proper procedures and highlights Meinhardt’s successful track record in India, including the works of the Statue of Unity.
On 11 October, the Meinhardt Group issued a cease and desist legal notice to Manne Krishank, BRS social media convener. They demanded that Krishank withdraw his “frivolous, malicious, and defamatory statements” against the firm immediately.
This is not the first time the BRS is raising suspicions regarding the companies with which the Telangana government is signing projects. In August 2024, the pink party made numerous allegations against US-based Swachh Bio, a company they claimed was bogus.
Furthermore, they accused the government of handing over projects to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s brother, under the aegis of a recently established company with a similar name in Hyderabad, during his US visit.
It was during the same trip that the Telangana government entrusted the Musi project with the Meinhardt group.
Established in 1955 by Bill Meinhardt in Australia, the company is reported to have 61 offices worldwide employing 6,000 people. With its headquarters in Singapore, the company provides project design, planning and management services, specialising in areas like fire performance and sustainability.
They have worked on projects across several countries, including the UK, Cambodia, Qatar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, Singapore, UAE, and India.
However, they ran into trouble in Pakistan, where they initiated the Creek Marina residential project in 2007. As part of the project, they collected 2.5 billion Pakistani Rupees from over 300 families. Following the non-delivery of flats or refunds even after 18 years Pakistan’s Public Accounts Committee directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to further investigate the dealings . The FIA’s investigation revealed that the firm embezzled three billion Pakistani Rupees — equivalent to ₹90.7 crore — through Creek Marina.
Subsequently, in November 2023, Meinhardt Group Chairman Nasim Shahzad and his son Omar Shehzad found themselves facing money laundering charges from the FIA.
In August 2024, Revanth Reddy and Sridhar Babu took a toured the US and South Korea to attract investments to Telangana. As part of the tour, they signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with numerous firms. The delegation reportedly drew investments in technology, pharma, energy, and infra sectors.
In February 2024, Meihardt first expressed interest when the Telangana government looked for companies to spearhead the Musi Riverfront Development Project. Meinhardt also presented models of the Musi Riverfront at this meeting.
Subsequently, in August 2024, Revanth Reddy met with Meinhardt once again while signing an array of deals and MoUs.
On 4 October, the Telangana Government’s Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department (MAUD) notified the sanction of funds and work orders to the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL). It granted ₹166.5 Crore for the Aggregate Master Planning.
Additionally, it issued work orders and Letters of Acceptance to Meinhardt Singapore Pte Ltd, Cushman and Wakefield India Private Limited, and RIOS Design Studios Pte Ltd.
Meanwhile, the BRS termed Meinhardt a notorious company.
“Meinhardt is a notorious company facing charges from several Governments, including being issued as an absconder by order of the Federal Investigating Agency of Pakistan. It was debarred for two years by Airport Authority of India,” BRS social media convener, Krishank Manne accused.
“It is also to be noted that CEO Omar Shahzad accompanied Revanth Reddy to London,” he stressed, continuing that the government hadn’t called for tenders either.
“For asking these questions which are already in public domain Meinhardt at the behest of CM Revanth has sent a legal notice just to intimidate voices who are questioning this corrupt practice,” he alleged. “The BRS Legal Cell is drafting a reply to Meinhardt and clarify that we won’t apologise or delete the posts on Social Media, and will expose this company legally as well as to the people of Telangana,” he stated
On 24 October, the BRS legal cell responded to Meinhardt’s notice, clarifying that Krishank would neither apologize for his statements nor retract them.
Interestingly, Meinhardt has already completed numerous projects in India. Most notably, they built the Statue of Unity in Kevadia in Gujarat, the world’s tallest statue at 182 metres.
Additionally, they were involved in the construction of the Delhi Aerocity, and the restructuring and modernisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports.
Down South, they were involved in the first and second phases of the Greater Bangalore Water Supply Project, constructing the Vijayawada airport in Andhra Pradesh, and the SAS iTowers in Gachibowli, Hyderabad.
Calling the tirade against the company an instance of ‘opportunist politics’ Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) General Secretary Kota Neelima held that the people’s welfare should take precedence over politics.
“The BRS has been in power for 10 years, I’m sure they know how due processes work. If they’re marring the reputation of the state for political gains, I at least hope they were following the processes when in power,” said.
Following the announcement by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) regarding the various deals and the signing of MoUs, the BRS alleged that those were “bogus” deals meant to mislead the people of Telangana. In response to the allegations of dealing with fake companies, IT, and Industries & Commerce Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan made a video reassuring people of the legitimacy of the deals.
He was part of the delegation that accompanied the chief minister and the IT minister to the US and South Korea. He said, “I know that questions are coming up in Hyderabad regarding the kinds of deals and meetings we are having over here (in the US).”
“I’ve been doing this for the last 10 years and I can assure you that we set up a meeting after we do our due diligence and think it will benefit Telangana,” he expressed confidence, dismissing rumours.
Jayesh Ranjan, Special Secretary for the Department of IT currently on tour with #Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in the US assured that they did due diligence while making deals.
“Back in India, the opposition is raising questions about the kind of meetings we’re having… pic.twitter.com/hY0EfgBnpA
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) August 8, 2024
Speaking at the press meeting on 17 October, Revanth Reddy responded to the numerous allegations of the BRS.
“The companies that the BRS is accusing have completed wonders worldwide,” he said. “The consortium of five companies has been tasked with developing a DPR in the next 16 months to complete the project over the next 6 and a half years,” he explained, adding that the government is paying ₹141 Crore to the consortium.
Clarifying the nature of the project, he said: “The Opposition and the media are calling this the ‘Musi Beautification Project,’ it’s not about beautification it is about rejuvenation.”
South First tried contacting Meihardt’s regional offices in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Noida for weeks but received no response.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
