AAP alleges Pankaja Munde involved in Rs 5k-cr Anganwadi scam

MUMBAI: BENGALURU: The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday made serious allegations of corruption against two of Maharashtra's senior-most BJP leaders.Women and child development minister Pankaja Munde and state BJP chief Rao Saheb Danve have both been accused of corruption by AAP's Preeti Sharma Menon in Mumbai.

Addressing a press conference, the AAP leader claimed that the two were involved in the Anganwadi scam.

The scheme focuses on providing nutritional meals to children by local self-help groups to prevent malnutrition. However, Menon claimed that dubious firms with links to both Munde's family and Danve were allegedly given contracts.

Menon alleged that despite a Supreme Court-constituted committee finding the three self-help groups -Venkateshwara Mahila Audhyogic Utpadan Sahakari Sanstha, Mahalaxmi Mahila Grhaudhyog and Maharashtra Mahila Sahakari Grahudhyog Sanstha - as fake and dubious in 2012, Munde's ministry went ahead and gave a contract worth Rs 3,500 crore to these three self-help groups.

Menon said that these self-help groups were mere fronts for some big contractors and claimed that some of those running these groups had business interests with Pankaja Munde and her family. "Venkateshwara Mahila Audhyogic Utpadan Sahakari Sanstha is run by one Satish Munde, who is a director in NV Auto Spares, along with one Ashok Jain.

ain is a director in Radico Distilleries, whose other directors include Pankaja herself. This clearly shows that there is a link between the two," alleged Menon.

She further added that it was shocking that 88 per cent of the contracts worth Rs 3,500 crore were given to these three groups and the rest to 15 self-help groups that had given fake addresses and were controlled by only one person. Significantly, one of the selfhelp groups - Moreshwar Mahila Bachat Gat - has transferred Rs 5 lakh to Danve, claimed Menon.

The AAP leader has asked for the resignation of both the leaders and also sought an investigation into the 'scam'.

ET tried to get in touch with Pankaja, but her aides said they would get back and respond to the allegations.However, they are yet to respond. Danve chose not to comment despite repeated attempts.