Mumbai: Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde has been accused of being involved in a scam worth Rs 206 crore scam relating to items provided to children under government schemes.
This is the first major allegation against the Devendra Fadnavis led BJP- Shiv Sena government of Maharashtra.
Pankaja Munde who is the daughter of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde has been accused of violating the rules in the process of online bidding.
The allegations on Pankaja Munde is that the minister has cleared inflated deals to purchase various items under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). The items were brought for the state run school for the tribal children in the state.
Pankaja Munde has been accused of tweaking rules while clearing the purchase of items such as chikki, mats, dishes and books at a cost Rs 206 crore.
All the purchases were cleared on February 13 through 24 Government Resolutions (GRs) that were “hurriedly issued”. As per norms, all government purchases above Rs 3 lakh have to be done through e-tendering. Fadnavis has banned purchases through the rate contract system, in which material is purchased after rates have been negotiated.
The commisioner of ICDS Vinita Singhal has approved the purchase of water filters from 'Everest' company based at Nashik at an inflated price of Rs5,200 per unit instead of Rs4,500
An official in her department said the minister was out of India and was expected to return on June 28.
