The Hindu : Front Page : Supplyco Managing Director shifted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Supplyco Managing Director shifted

Special Correspondent

Minister defends CBI inquiry

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet on Tuesday decided to shift the Managing Director of the State Civil Supplies Corporation Jacob Thomas to the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC). IPS Officer Yogesh Gupta will be appointed in his place.

The move to shift Mr. Thomas had attracted criticism on the ground that it would affect the proposed CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] investigation into the alleged irregularities in the procurement of goods by the Corporation during the United Democratic Front's rule.

Asked about this, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said the Corporation completed the procedures for handing over the case to the CBI. The notification for the inquiry was issued on January 8.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies C. Divakaran told journalists that the replacement of Mr. Thomas was a routine transfer and it had nothing to do with the CBI inquiry. The probe was ordered on the basis of the recommendations of the Muraleedharan Commission that went into the alleged irregularities in the Corporation and other agencies.

He recalled that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, inspection wing of the Finance Department and internal audit wing of the Corporation had reported on the irregularities and recommended action. The first recommendation of the Muraleedharan Commission, appointed by the previous Government, was an investigation by the CBI.

The Commission had submitted its report after the present Government had sent it two reminders as per his direction. On receipt of its recommendations, he had asked the Managing Director of the Corporation to initiate steps to entrust the investigation to the CBI. This he had done. The order issued on January 8 specified that the probe should cover purchases from June 2001 to May 2006.

He said the irregularities involved an amount of Rs.134 crores. He could not say whether politicians were involved in the deals. It was for the CBI to detect that.

Mr. Divakaran said he had not received any death threats over the move to order a CBI investigation into the irregularities. However, someone had telephoned him to say that he should not support a CBI probe. Another caller later said he would have to suffer for supporting a CBI probe.

The Minister said measures had been initiated to eliminate corruption in the purchases including introduction of an e-tendering system.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page