Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
India

Akali Dal seeks CBI probe into Rs 500 crore wheat, flour delivery 'scam' in Punjab

Darpan News Desk, 05 Mar, 2024 03:16 PM
  • Akali Dal seeks CBI probe into Rs 500 crore wheat, flour delivery 'scam' in Punjab

Chandigarh, March 4 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday demanded a CBI probe into the home delivery of wheat and flour in Punjab by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, alleging Rs 500 crore would be looted from the treasury by allotting this work to Delhi-based companies close to AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal.

Addressing the media here, senior party leaders Parambans Singh Romana and Winnerjit Goldy claimed that contracts worth Rs 655 crore had been awarded to two companies owned by Kejriwal confidant R.K. Mittal without advertising the tender document in any newspaper of Punjab.

"The entire tender was tailor-made for these selected companies, one of whom – R.K. Associates supplied food in Shatabdi trains," they said, alleging that a scam was being perpetrated at every stage of the home delivery service with the companies being awarded a delivery cost of Rs 24 crore per month to deliver wheat and flour at a cost of Rs 3 per kg within a radius of eight km only.

They said similarly Rs 3 per kg rate had been awarded to repackage wheat at a cost of Rs 14.40 crore per month and Rs 5.50 per kg to mill wheat to supply as flour at a cost of Rs 17.60 crore per month, and this entire cost, if calculated for the entire year, came to Rs 384 crore.

Romana and Goldy said the companies would use 16 lakh Markfed bags to distribute both wheat and flour and that the same would be retained with the companies which would result in a pilferage of Rs 108 crore. The bag with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s picture which would be delivered to the beneficiaries along with wheat and flour would entail a further cost of Rs 125 crore.

Besides, Rs 65,000 per month was being paid for management of wheat and flour at 800 company shops which would be manned by two persons.

Asserting that the state would be burdened to the tune of Rs 655 crore by this scheme whose sole purpose was to woo the electorate in other states prior to the Lok Sabha elections, the SAD leaders said the same was being done by ration depot holders at a cost of 47 paisa per kg and involved a total cost of only Rs 45 crore per annum.

"This is a massive scam as the entire home delivery can be done at a fraction of the cost," the leaders asserted. They also disclosed that a further Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore were likely to be spent on advertising the scheme in Punjab and in other states entailing a total cost of Rs 1,000 crore to the state exchequer.

"It is clear that at least Rs 500 crore is being pilfered to finance AAP at the cost of Punjab and this deserves a CBI probe," the Akali Dal leaders added.

Punjab Depot Dealers Federation President Sukhwinder Kanjla said besides taking away the livelihood of 18,000 depot holders as well as others associated with them, the scheme would also inconvenience the beneficiaries. He said the depot holders were giving wheat to the beneficiaries for a period of three months in one go and were available round the clock while now beneficiaries would get wheat and flour every month at specific times during the day which would not be convenient for daily wagers.

MORE India ARTICLES

Parliament security breach: Delhi court to hear accused Neelam Azad's bail plea next week

Parliament security breach: Delhi court to hear accused Neelam Azad's bail plea next week
A Delhi court on Wednesday said that it will hear, on January 16, the bail application moved by Neelam Azad, one of the six accused in the December 13, 2023, Parliament security breach case. Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur of Patiala House Courts adjourned the matter, citing the unavailability of the investigating officer of the case. On January 2, the court had directed the Delhi Police to file a response to the bail application.

Parliament security breach: Delhi court to hear accused Neelam Azad's bail plea next week

Rajnath calls on Sunak during UK visit, discuss enhancing defence ties

Rajnath calls on Sunak during UK visit, discuss enhancing defence ties
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street, London, said officials on Thursday, adding that both discussed enhancing defence ties between the two countries. Sunak fully agreed with Rajnath Singh on the need for UK and India to work in the domains of trade, defence and technology. In particular, he expressed hope that the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations could be brought to a successful conclusion soon. 

Rajnath calls on Sunak during UK visit, discuss enhancing defence ties

PM Modi to inaugurate India's longest sea bridge tomorrow

PM Modi to inaugurate India's longest sea bridge tomorrow
The PM will also inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 12,700 crore in the public programme in Navi Mumbai. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the underground road tunnel connecting Eastern Freeway's Orange Gate to Marine Drive.

PM Modi to inaugurate India's longest sea bridge tomorrow

Sukhbir Badal files defamation suit against Punjab CM

Sukhbir Badal files defamation suit against Punjab CM
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Thursday filed a defamation suit seeking Rs 1 crore damages from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for willful defamation as part of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) conspiracy against the Badal family as well as the party. The SAD President filed a civil suit in this regard in the court of the Civil Judge in Muktsar through this advocate and also submitted court fee of Rs 2.29 lakh.

Sukhbir Badal files defamation suit against Punjab CM

Delhi Police nabs accused in cold murder case from Goa after an over year-long pursuit

Delhi Police nabs accused in cold murder case from Goa after an over year-long pursuit
Delhi Police's Crime Branch has arrested a 26-year-old man from Goa for allegedly killing his friend over one-and-a-half years ago in the national capital, an official said on Thursday. The accused identified as Ankit Verma a.k.a Alok Verma, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Jalaun, was also carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on information leading to his arrest.  

Delhi Police nabs accused in cold murder case from Goa after an over year-long pursuit

Ram temple gets its first 'gold' door ahead of Jan 22 inauguration

Ram temple gets its first 'gold' door ahead of Jan 22 inauguration
The first golden door has been installed at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, temple officials said. The door, which is 12-feet high and eight-feet wide, has been installed on the upper floor of the sanctum sanctorum.

Ram temple gets its first 'gold' door ahead of Jan 22 inauguration