The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday raided the offices of the National Consumer Co-operative Federation (NCCF) after being tipped off that the federation’s officer-bearers were allegedly involved in buying goods and commodities for tribals at exorbitant rates.
NCCF functions under the ministry of agriculture at the Centre and is responsible for providing foodgrains and other commodities to tribals in Maharashtra. The CBI estimates the scam involves Rs92 lakh.
CBI officials said a case has been registered against MN Sawant, former manager of NCCF, and three industrial firms — Balaji Industries and Devesh Industries of Jalgoan, and Saurav Industries of Pune. Preliminary investigations revealed that Sawant, along with a few other officers, indulged in the fraud between June 2006 and October 2007, the officials said.
At least three commodities — coconut oil, chilli powder and garam masala — were bought by paying at least Rs20 more than the market rates. “The department supplies several commodities,” Pravin Salunkhe, superintendent of police, ACB, CBI, said. “The fraud might be much bigger involving other foodgrains like rice, wheat and salt. We will make arrests soon,” he said.
Some officers from the Tribal Development Commission are also suspected to be involved in the scam.
The ACB raided the federation’s offices at Mumbai, Pune, Jalgoan and Nashik and also the Kurla residence of Sawant. “We are collecting evidence against other officers involved in the scam. We are also gathering proof in the form of documents and bills of other industries that might have been hand-in-glove with the officials,” Salunkhe said.
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