Maha Min Pankaja Munde accused of irregularities worth Rs 206 cr

Mumbai, June 24

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Maharashtra's Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde has been accused of clearing purchases worth Rs 206 crore through 24 Government Resolutions (GR) on a single day instead of inviting tenders.

The purchases are believed to relate to a host of items, including snacks and books for children in institutions across the state.

The Opposition parties attacked the state government led by Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Former chief minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan demanded a CBI inquiry into what the Congress called a bid scam and demanded an explanation from the minister.

"Be it Pankaja Munde or Vinod Tawade (education minister caught in a row over educational qualification), this government will not remove anyone. After all, this the policy of the Modi government to brazen out all allegations. The scam has exposed the real character of this government. The Minister (Munde) must give an explanation on the issue", Chavan said.

The scam first came to light on June 15, when Munde’s office received a letter from Ahmednagar Zila Parishad president Manjushree Gund complaining that chikki (a sweet snack) distributed to tribal students under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) had clay in it.

This is the first time allegations of irregularities have been levelled against the eight-month-old BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state.

The purchases are believed to have been cleared by Pankaja Munde, daughter of BJP stalwart late Gopinath Munde, in a single day on February 13.

Government rules lay down that all government purchases above Rs 3 lakh must be done through e-tendering. Fadnavis has banned purchases through the rate contract system, in which material is purchased after rates have been negotiated.

Munde pleads innocence 

Munde, however, denied any wrongdoing. In an emailed statement, she said, "I feel I should be given a fair chance to present our side... I have very closely observed my decisions and taken best step as much as possible for my department."

Munde claimed she had not broken any rules and had taken some "dynamic decisions to reduce corruption".

"I m here to do the best for those kids n women n I will do...I will come bk n all set to answer since I m cofident of my decisions n intentions (sic).." she said.

Munde said her decision to check corruption had "troubled" some "money-minded" people and that she was not scared of such accusations.

For years the women and child development department had been neglected and was taken "less seriously", she said, adding that "I as a minister (have) taken some dynamic decision to reduce currption...has also troubled some money minded bunch of ppl (sic) involved...I hv not broken any rules as far I m concerned n also not feared any allegations". — PTI