How the controversy beganAccording to documents cited in the report, a dustbin was procured at a price of ₹15,490 per unit. Her allegation was essentially based on a simple comparison: ₹1,500 for an ordinary market dustbin versus ₹15,490 in the government procurement record. BMSICL Managing Director Subrat Sen said the product being discussed was purchased during the tenure of his predecessor and was not an ordinary dustbin. The opposition’s argument is based on the apparent gap between the government procurement price and the price of ordinary dustbins available in the market. The phrase “₹15,490 dustbin” is therefore likely to remain politically potent even if the underlying product turns out to be a specialised medical device component.