How Mahananda dairy chief made his millions

According to documents available with The Indian Express, Talekar built his estate very systematically. Sources say, during his stay in the organisation, he practised small-time corruption. It’s when he joined the Estate Department in 1989, they say, that he started making the real money.

By 1996, Talekar had become a manager through departmental promotions. Next, the Sena-BJP combine came to power. And Talekar started on his schemes.

In 1999, the entire 76-member board of the dairy was sacked and a new 12-member board constituted. Talekar allegedly used his association with the party in power to become the executive director, a post specially created for himself, and got total administrative and financial control.

In 1999, the Vilasrao Deshmukh government came to power. Anandrao Deokate became the Dairy Minister and Hasan Mushrif, minister of state. But this made no difference to Talekar. He dissolved the existing 12-member board, and in 2000, a new board was constituted with Deokate as chairman and Mushrif as vice-chairman.

Secretary in the Dairy Ministry Sreedhar Thakre became the representative of the milk producers’ union and Talekar became managing director of the dairy. S.S. Sandhu, who was MD in 2001, complained about Talekar’s activities but was shunted out.

A number of other former MDs and Ministry secretaries complained about Talekar’s activities to the government. They were transferred too.

The fiddles

Polyfilm: The new milk pouches caused the dairy a loss of Rs 3.5 crore

Caustic soda: While other dairies bought the cleaning agent for Rs 13, Mahananda got it for Rs 24.50

Plastic crates: Other dairies bought these at Rs 70 per unit. Mahananda dairy bought each at Rs 98.

The tenders for these plants were granted to firms owned by the Phadtares. In many cases, firms came into being after tenders were granted.