VO picks up JAKFED records as yet another scam surfaces

JAMMU: The scam hit Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (JAKFED) is believed to be involved in yet another scandal as the sleuths of Vigilance Organisation raided its premises and seized records following complaints of embezzlements and irregularities in sale and purchase of cement and steel.
Official sources said that following complaints of discrepancies in account books of the JAKFED by the audit department, a team of Vigilance sleuths today conducted a survey in the office of the JAKFED and seized records for scrutiny. In the complaint, it was alleged that huge bungling of sale and purchase of cement and steel took place in the record of the JAKFED as the sale and purchase was done without following the codal formalities.
Sources further said that during preliminary investigation it has come to fore that JAKFED has given undue favour to a Kashmir based Cement and Steel firm as the material were purchased from the very firm without following codal formalities. "Nothing could be said at the moment as the probe in this connection is in progress", said a senior Vigilance Officer when contacted, however, he admitted of such fraud being committed by the JAKFED authorities.
The latest move on part of Vigilance took place when JAKFED was already put to subject of two probes in Rs 300 Crore embezzlement in fertilizer and Rs 52 Crore fraud in transportation. The Vigilance started probe in Rs 52 Crore fraud after a Letter No PS/MD/2011/756-62 Dated 13/10/2011 was sent to the premier investigation agency by then MD JAKFED Ravinder Gupta stating that Rs 52 Crore's fake entries in cash book and leaguer has taken place.
While the probe in Rs 52 Crore fraud is reportedly underway in State Vigilance Organization, the outcome of Rs 300 Crore is still go unsolved despite of government claim that those involved in Rs 300 Crore embezzlement would face appropriate action. This hefty amount's fraud shook the government when in 2013, MLC Naresh Gupta raised question mark on the said fraud following which Legislative Council appointed a House Committee .The report so prepared by the House Committee was later forwarded to the Vigilance Organization on 29th May, 2015 for intimation.
Pertinently, the scam was put at Rs 299 crore by one man inquiry commission headed by K B Pillai way back in August 2000, on account of fraudulent drawls by employees, supply fertilizers, cement and other construction materials within the state.