Following on the basis of the Bhati Commission report, the State Government has instructed DGP Satyavrat to lodge FIR against the irregularities pointed out by the Commission on Thursday late evening. On Thursday afternoon, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had said that before lodging FIR, legal advice is being taken in Bhati Commission’s report on an alleged scam during the previous BJP Government in the State.
During investigation, the KR Bhati commission has found irregularities in the appointment of Hemant Dwivedi as chairman of the Uttarakhand Seed & Tarai Development corporation (USTDC) by then State Chief Minister in 2010 and financial irregularities in the purchase of 10 lakh sacks and 90000 quintal seeds.
The Commission has found that the appointment of Hemant Dwivedi as chairman of USTDC was against the Companies Act. Although the State can appoint its chairman, the person should be a government official only.
The commission has also found irregularities in purchase of jute bags. Ten lakh Jute bags of 40 kg capacity for packaging of seeds were procured in the year 2010 at exorbitant rates of Rs37.59 per bag though for the year 2009 and 2008, the rate was Rs25.77 and Rs20.50 per bag. With this procurement USTDC received around
Rsone crore loss. Irregularities were committed in the tender process also. Three other companies who participated in the process were declared technically unfit and the tender was given to M/s Kl Jute Co despite it being the only company. Rates were also not negotiated with the company.
Bhati commission has also found irregularities in purchase of seeds from private seed companies at inflated rates. For the year 2010, seeds were purchased 90,000 quintal from private seed companies @ Rs 1620 per quintal even though procurement rate from the shareholders of the corporation was only Rs 1230 per quintal i.e. Rs 390 less. In the year 2009 the difference was mere Rs 60 per quintal. The commission also found the seeds from private companies were sold without verifying their quality and genuineness thereby causing loss of brand image of Pantnagar seed.