In a major embarrassment to the Congress Government, the Himachal Vigilance Bureau has found no evidences of irregularities in the procurement, transportation and processing of pulses in the infamous pulses scam which rocked the State during previous BJP Government.
The alleged scam which also found mention in the Congress charge-sheet was probed by the Vigilance Bureau after the irregularities surfaced during the previous BJP Government and Congress then in Opposition had made it an issue, even during Assembly elections.
Vigilance Bureau though found evidences of tampering of tender conditions and two officers of food and civil supplies department were suspended against whom departmental inquiry is underway and chargesheet has been submitted in the anti-corruption court.
The chargesheet include the name of Delhi based firm Munish Kumar-Mohit Kumar and include the names of proprietor Mahendra Mittal.The information in this regard was given by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Food and Civil Supplies Minister GS Bali.
In his reply in the ongoing Budget session of the Assembly, Chief minister Virbhadra Singh said that complaint number 3/12 was received in this case and FIR 1/2012 was lodged by Vigilance Bureau on February 4, 2012 and in one part of complaint regarding alteration of tender conditions to suit a particular party, two officers of the department were suspended and departmental inquiry is underway and chargesheet was submitted in the court on January 3, 2013.
Chief Minister clarified in the second part of complaint regarding irregularities in procurement and transportation of pulses Vigilance Bureau in its investigation had not found any criminal case and had not recommended for blacklisting of any firm and there was no provision for blacklisting, as per the existing law and the matter is pending before the court.
“No evidence of irregularities was found in procurement, transportation and processing of pulses from Mumbai to Delhi and the case was closed by Vigilance Bureau,” said Virbhadra Singh.
The question regarding progress of investigation in pulses scam was asked by HlP MlA Mahendra Singh, who alleged that Food and Civil Supplies Minister is protecting the accused and demanded that some other agency should probe the case as the Vigilance Bureau had not found any evidences.
Maheshwar Singh said that State Government should tighten the noose of culprit traders or suppliers who were involved in the pulses scam.Reminding that present consumer affairs Food and Civil Supplies Minister GS Bali had been chairmen of Congress chargesheet committee which also highlighted this scam in the past.