Chhattisgarh HC reserves decision on petition demanding fresh inquiry into PDS scam

BILASPUR: Chhattisgarh high court on Thuraday reserved its decision on a petition filed before it demanding a fresh inquiry into PDS (public distribution system) scam. The petition was filed on behalf of the then managing director of the corporation Anil Tuteja, who is also one of the accused in the scam. Demanding an inquiry afresh into the matter Tuteja contended in his petition that the inquiry conducted by the ACB (anti corruption bureau) was faulty.

Tuteja’s petition was filed before thee single bench of Justice Sanjay K Agarwal. The petitioner alleged that the sole charge slapped by ACB in the matter has been that losses of crores of rupees to the state government were incurred by procuring substandard rice from the rice millers and bribes was accepted by compromising the quality of food grans so procured. Contrary to the said charges, it has been established through a reply by the state government given in the state assembly in this regard that the rice procured from rice millers was not of substandard quality. Similarly, the ACB had charged that heavy losses were incurred in transportation of rice so procured, whereas the state government has stated in this regard that no such losses have been incurred.

The petitioner also contended that with regard to complaints in connection with substandard rice procured during his tenure and star questions raised in the state assembly, replies to the same were given on March 18, 2016. It was clearly mentioned in those replies that no complaints were received with regard to procurement of substandard rice from rice millers or grains distributed under PDS scheme during the years 2013-14 and 2014-15.

The petitioner further contended that it was due to his efforts the state government had earned rice worth Rs 2000 crore, which was stuck with rice millers.

The petitioner further said that he was not challenging any orders, but was simply urging the court to issue fresh directives keeping in view the faulty investigations by ACB with regard to the case and a fresh charge sheet should be filed before a special judge under the provisions of ACB Act.

Besides ACB, thee petitioner has also made general administration department and secretary food department as respondents in this connection.

Hearing the petitioner's council and the council of the state government on Thursday, Justice Agrawal reserved his order into the matter.

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