ACB, EOW to probe misappropriation of Rs 100 crore at Mahananda

MUMBAI: The Anti-Corruption Bureau and the the Economic Offences Wing of the police will probe alleged misappropriation of over Rs 100 crore at Mahananda, the state government-owned dairy, during 2005-14, Maharashtra dairy development minister Eknath Khadse said today.

A fresh and detailed first information report will be registered and an additional chargesheet will be filed, he said here after chairing a meeting where functioning of the Mahananda was discussed.

An inquiry regarding irregularities at the dairy during the tenure of former executive director Shivaji Talekar is already going on. The dairy development portfolio was with NCP from 1999 till 2014, during the Congress-NCP rule.

Dhananjay Kamlakar, joint CP, EOW, and Pravin Dixit, DG, ACB attended today's meeting, the minister said.

Khadse said there were complaints about foreign jaunts by officials without permission, advertisements given by the dairy for greeting political leaders and cost escalations in milk powder project in Pune, Tetrafino plant and product block plant at Mahananda complex in Goregaon.

Mahananda had leased milk packaging units in Vashi, Pune, Kudal and Goa. It is alleged that when only 10,000-15,000 litres of milk was sold daily, these units were paid charges for 50,000 litres of milk.

Also, unnecessary expenditure was made to procure milk powder from outside for toned milk, he alleged.