CID probe assured into Sangli school rice scheme scam

A departmental inquiry was being initiated against these officials and stern action would be taken against them, Meghe asserted. He informed members that the department was not averse to a high-level probe into the irregularities, being committed under the scheme at various places throughout the State. “I have already sought district-wise details of such complaints and action taken sofar on the same,” he added.

Meghe was replying to a poser by Chandrakant Raghuvanshi (Congress) and others during question hour as members, mostly from the ruling alliance, reacted sharply to the manner in which the fraud was perpetuated on school students in Sangli district.

The issue figured separately during zero hour, through a calling attention motion by Jaiprakash Baviskar (Shiv Sena), as opposition members reacted strongly against the absence of Meghe and his deputy, Mohammad Arif Naseem Khan, from the House. The Chairman had to adjourn the proceedings for 15 minutes and after the House reassembled, Meghe expressed his regrets for not being present when the motion was moved. He said, he was preoccupied with a reply in the Lower House.

The scheme envisages provision of three kg rice each month for students of class I to V of the State-run schools.

During 1998-99, the supply order in Sangli district was given to Badrinath alias Badrinarayan Nandkishore Laddha, who divested over 6,265 quintals ofrice to purposes other than the scheme. As such, the amount of fraud worked out to over Rs 75.18 lakh, the minister said.

He admitted that the fraud could not have occurred but for the involvement of officials and personnel from the department as well as the Zilla Parishad and hence a preliminary inquiry by Deputy Collector (Supplies) was ordered.

Laddha has since been arrested by the Miraj police on relevant counts under the Essential Commodities Act and the Maharashtra Foodgrains Rationing (Second) order and the bank guarantee of Rs 6.95 lakh, which he had given to the State, has been frozen. The department has further held up bills worth over Rs 16.58 lakh payable to Laddha towards transportation charges and has seized an automatic packing machine, worth Rs 21 lakh, from him. There would be no let up in the recovery of amount he got through false means, Meghe said.