The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Rajasthan on Thursday took decisive action, registering a formal case in a massive alleged fraud worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore. The scandal is linked to the state government's midday meal scheme during the period when schools were shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Details of the Alleged Scam and Accused
ACB officers stated that the First Information Report (FIR) names a total of 21 accused individuals and entities. The list includes officials from the Rajasthan State Cooperative Consumer Federation Ltd (Confed), representatives of various private firms, and suppliers. They face serious charges including criminal conspiracy, forgery, and the misuse of government funds.
During the pandemic lockdown, when schools were non-operational, a state decision was made to provide combo packs containing essential food items like pulses, oil, and spices to students. This supply was to be managed through Confed under the midday meal scheme, with promises of doorstep delivery adhering to FSSAI and Agmark standards.
How the Fraud Was Executed
The ACB initiated a preliminary inquiry following numerous complaints about large-scale irregularities. The probe uncovered a deep-rooted conspiracy. Officials associated with the scheme and Confed allegedly conspired to manipulate tender rules. This manipulation systematically excluded eligible and qualified firms from the bidding process.
Instead, tenders were awarded to pre-selected, favoured companies. Investigations further revealed that these firms sublet the work to other entities, creating an organised network of fake suppliers and transporters. In a brazen act of fraud, fake bills were submitted at highly inflated rates for goods that were never actually purchased or supplied. Government payments were then fraudulently obtained against these fabricated documents.
Financial Impact and Political Echoes
The ACB has estimated that this elaborate scheme caused a financial loss of about Rs 2,000 crore to the state exchequer. Based on these findings, the FIR was registered against Confed officials, central warehouse staff, and numerous private individuals and firms.
Key accused named in the case include assistant accounts officer Sanwatram; managers Rajendra, Lokesh Kumar Bapna, Yogendra Sharma, and Rajendra Singh Shekhawat; assistant manager Pratibha Saini; godown keeper Ramdhan Bairwa; and supervisor Dinesh Kumar Sharma. Private firms like Tirupati Suppliers, Jagrut Enterprises, MT Enterprises, and Sai Trading have also been implicated.
This is not the first time the scheme has come under scrutiny. In September 2022, the Income Tax Department conducted raids across Rajasthan, including at premises linked to junior Rajasthan home minister Rajendra Yadav. Furthermore, in March 2023, School Education Minister Madan Dilawar had publicly alleged irregularities in the midday meal scheme during the previous government's tenure, criticising the decision to distribute food materials instead of transferring funds to parents' accounts during the pandemic.
