M.P. Lokayukta sets up team to probe kickbacks

BHOPAL, SEPT. 1. The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta has set up a special team to look into allegations of kickbacks being paid to the Chief Minister and Excise Minister through a pool fund set up by liquor manufacturers for the period from November 2000 to March 2001.

``The case is being accorded top priority,'' sources in the Lokayukta said here today. The first complaint was registered in January this year.

The sources said the Lokayukta has received only a single piece of paper from the Income Tax Department about alleged kickbacks paid to the Chief Minister and the Excise Minister for supply of liquor.

``This piece of paper does not mention anyone by name,'' the sources said and added that the paper was for both Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh.

The unsigned paper does not state that a sum of Rs.10 crores and Rs.2 crores was to be paid to the Chief Minister and the Excise Minister respectively, they said.

The sources said the paper does not contain the name of the Chief Minister and pointed out that it deals with supply of liquor from November 1 to March this year.

The paper also names two liquor manufacturers from whom contributions on the basis of the quantity of liquor allotted to them were sought for paying the kickbacks.

The sources pointed out that there was no way in which this paper can be said to be a fabrication since it was mentioned in the seizure note prepared by the Income-Tax Department at the time of the raid on the premises of the local liquor manufacturer.

- PTI

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