THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The gold smuggling case which shook Kerala politics has also become a headache for the West Bengal govt also. The Price Water Coopers (PWC), which became infamous in Kerala with the appointment of Swapna Suresh, had participated in Bengal government’s tender which has raised concerned among higher officials in Bengal. Now the Bengal government has sent a letter to the state IT department over the current status of the controversy in the state.

The Bengal government has also issued the justification that the information was sought to enhance the transparency of the tender process and to avert controversies that could malign the government’s image. PWC has participated in the project monitoring tender of West Bengal Electronic Industry Development Corporation which comes under the state’s IT ministry.

When Swapna’s illegal appointment became a controversy, the Kerala govt has asked PWC to stay away from all programmes of the IT department. When news concerning this came to light, the Bengal government approached Kerala to get a clear picture of the controversy. The state IT department has informed the ban imposed by the Kerala government on the firm from taking part in various IT projects and the plea filed by PWC in the high court against the ban imposed by the Kerala government.

Experts say that the ban imposed on PWC by Kerala could affect the company’s functioning in other states of India. They say a firm that was banned by a state government might face difficulties in participating in the tender proceedings of other states.