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TMI BlogDamania alleges Rs 88 crore scam in agriculture dept under Dhananjay MundeX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Damania alleges Rs 88 crore scam in agriculture dept under Dhananjay Munde X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ivil Supplies, termed her allegations as "baseless" and politically motivated. Despite the Union government's 2016 directive to transfer money directly to farmers' bank accounts under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the agriculture department purchased equipment and fertilisers for distribution to farmers at inflated rates, claimed Damania, a former Aam Aadmi Party leader. Dhananjay Munde is alr ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... eady under fire over the arrest of his aide Walmik Karad in an extortion case related to the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district. Speaking at a press conference here, Damania presented documents related to the alleged scam. "These documents are proof of how the minister siphoned off farmers' money and violated laws. As per the government resolution (GR) on DBT, all scheme-relat ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ed funds were to be transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts, except for certain government entities such as Mahabeej, KVK, and MAIDC, which produce their own goods. However, this rule was disregarded," Damania claimed. She referred to a GR dated September 12, 2018, which listed 62 components under DBT. While the chief minister has the power to add new components to the DBT list, the exist ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ing components could not be removed without approval of a committee of the chief secretary, finance secretary and planning secretary, Damania said. Just before the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections came into effect, the state government issued a new GR on March 12, 2024, appointing agriculture commissioner as controlling officer for purchasing agricultural inputs, she said. Then ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... agriculture commissioner Pravin Gedam raised concerns on March 15, 2024, stating that implementation of a purchase-based scheme was wrong, the activist claimed. Gedam pointed out that as the items being procured were not produced by Mahabeej or MAIDC, the funds should have been disbursed through DBT to farmers instead of purchasing these items, she said. Gedam told Munde about these irregularit ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ies, but the minister advised the Director and Deputy Secretary of the Agriculture Department to proceed with the purchases, Damania alleged. Gedam's comment was not available immediately. On March 15, Munde allegedly sought permission from then deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar to issue tenders. Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party, approved the request, Damania c ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... laimed. Then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde approved the removal of certain components from the DBT list, despite not having the authority, she alleged. The agriculture department under Munde was guilty of major financial irregularities in the procurement of five items, namely, nano urea, nano DAP, battery sprayers, metaldehyde pesticide and cotton bags, the activist said. Nano urea and nano DAP, ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... produced by IFFCO, were allegedly purchased at inflated rates. While a 500-millilitre bottle of nano urea was available for Rs 92 in the market, the agriculture department allegedly issued a tender to purchase it for Rs 220 per bottle. A total of 19,68,408 bottles were procured. Similarly, nano DAP, priced at Rs 269 per bottle in the market, was purchased for Rs 590 per bottle, Damania claimed. ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Battery sprayers, available in the market for Rs 2,496 apiece, were procured for Rs 3,425, she alleged. Damania had earlier levelled allegations against Munde regarding his alleged financial links to Walmik Karad. Opposition in Maharashtra has been demanding the minister's resignation since Karad's arrest last month. In his reaction, Dhananjay Munde said the allegations were baseless. "None of ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the allegations leveled by her in various cases over the years have been substantiated. May be she is considering return to politics and that is why making such allegations," the minister added. Elsewhere, Shiv Sena leader and Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will "certainly take notice of the evidence provided by Damania and conduct enquiry and take ac ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tion." "But seeking Munde's resignation is a matter for (the consideration of) deputy CM Ajit Pawar who heads the NCP," he told reporters. PTI ND PR VT KRK X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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