Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday defended his Minister Pankaja Munde in the controversy over her Rs206-crore worth of purchases under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme by saying no discrepancies have been found “prima facie”. Fadnavis, who met Prime Minister Modi here, however, did not rule out ordering a probe but only after going into “minute details”.
“Panjaka Munde had called me up to say that in this regard if I feel the need for any enquiry to be ordered, I should do it. I am personally monitoring this case. What can be seen prima facie is that there are no discrepancies,” he told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister said Munde had sanctioned purchases in February this year as funds provided by the Centre under the ICDS would have expired on March 31.
He also said the norm of inviting e-tenders for purchases worth Rs3 lakh and more was introduced by his Government in April. Congress has accused Pankaja of flouting this norm by clearing purchases through Government Resolutions.
The Fadnavis Government was on Wednesday hit by the first major charge of corruption after Congress accused Pankaja, daughter of BJP stalwart late Gopinath Munde, of clearing purchases worth Rs206 crore on February 13 through 24 Government Resolutions.
A host of items including snacks, mats, dishes and books for children were purchased under the ICDS by the Women and Child Development Ministry.
Fadnavis, however, made it clear that a probe will be ordered only if irregularities were found to have been committed after a thorough examination. “We will still go into the minute details and, if any discrepancy is found then, an Inquiry will be ordered,” he said.
Congress leader Sachin Sawant had filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau on the issue and former CM Prithviraj Chavan had even sought a CBI probe.
It was not confirmed if the matter came up for discussion at Fadnavis’ meeting with Modi. The CM was believed to have invited the PM for the Kumbh Mela at Nashik beginning next month.