The state food and civil supplies department has during an internal audit detected a Rs 35-crore “scam” involving advance paid to 17 companies by the West Bengal Essential Commodities Supply Corporation Limited.
State food and civil supplies minister Jyotipriya Mullick today handed over the audit report for the 2004-05 accounts to chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
“An internal audit carried out by the department has revealed that Rs 35.86 crore was paid in advance to 17 companies. But there are no records why this amount was paid. We have not been able to find a single agreement document. I have requested the chief minister to order a CID inquiry,” Mullick said at Writers’ Buildings. “Out of the 17 companies, eight cannot be traced.” The highest amount paid to a company was Rs 7.34 crore, sources said. “The amounts vary from Rs 6.56 lakh to Rs 7.34 crore,” an official said.
Items from imitation jewellery and garments to edible oils and flour are involved, sources said. “The WBECSCL was trying to make a foray into a number of businesses going by the list of companies available. Why these companies were selected, what were the terms and conditions, is not known,” an official said.
The essential commodities corporation had come under the scanner after a Rs 200-crore iron ore scam was detected and a serving IAS officer and a retired officer arrested.