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| Ex-Co-operative Minister encouraged corruption, shielded accused | | | K Koushal
ET Report
Jammu, Mar 24: Continuing its drive to unearth corruption and people who are involved in corrupt practices, Early Times would unfold every detail of embezzlement of funds in societies in Jammu and Kashmir Co-operative Housing Corporation Ltd.
In sequence of stories this newspaper would bring the irregularities to fore to attract the attention of the Governor N N Vohra and other concerned towards these irregularities. Project wise details would be published in coming days with facts and figures.
Jammu and Kashmir Co-operative Housing Corporation Ltd witnessed several irregularities in taking up project works and other routine affairs from 2006 to 2010 revealed. Former Ex-Minister for fisheries and Cooperatives, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma conducted so called inquiry in the irregularities to ascertain the facts and people who were involved in the scam but no fruitful results were fetched as inquiry was conducted just as a cosmetic exercise.
In 2006, many projects were taken up by the corporation and it was found that in every project whether Jammu and Kashmir Co-operative Housing Corporation Ltd committed several scams resulting in huge loss to state exchequer. After acquiring the office as Minister of Cooperatives, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma allowed embezzlement to go on under his very nose. He (Dr Sharma) didn't recommend strict action against defaulters who looted tax payers' money in the name of development.
When these scams were unearthed the department had said that there was no proper procedure in vogue for purchasing of land acquired for different projects and the entire land was bought through the selected attorney holders, besides no open survey was conducted before establishing colonies by the cooperative society.
Office of the Registrar Cooperative Societies J&K Jammu has categorically mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir Co-operative Housing Corporation Ltd is the first ever institution which did not frame its annual income budget right from its inception till 2009 and due to non-reflection of trading entries in the original books of accounts, the corporation has shown sustained huge loss from 2000-01 to 2008-09 for Rs 8759.92 lacs and position of loss of year 2009-10 has not been detected.
After assuming office, Ex-Minister for fisheries and cooperatives, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma ordered enquiry in the scam which was running in the corporation for a long time. The fact of the matter is that after inquiry report which came in 2011, no legal action including steps to recover loss was recommended by the ex-Minister. After the inquiry report, ex-Minister desired to hold elections but the Kingpin of the scam knocked the door of court and High Court appointed a sitting judge as chairman of the Corporation. Elections were held again and those people were elected who were recommended by Ex-Minister.
Although 17-18 candidates were in fray but members of the same lobby which was negotiated between Dr Manohar and BS Manhas emerged as winner. It was not a co-incidence because all things were fixed between Dr. Manohar and BS Manhas. Ex-Minister jumped into the pursuit with a motive and it was decided that whatever scam was done in the corporation won't be brought into limelight and the embezzlement in the corporation would be taken forward by the newly elected body. Irony of the episode is that BS Manhas, Chairman who was the alleged kingpin of the scam is again serving in the corporation as Director after winning election which was carried out under the supervision of Dr. Manohar Lal.
Pertinently, B S Manhas was the main culprit in the scam as per the report and earlier, he was shown door by the Ex-Minister. The whole episode turned to be a mere eyewash as inquiry was conducted to hush up the matter. Ex-Minister shook hands with culprits and allowed the culprits to loot the state exchequer.
Ex-minister didn't recommend any action against any official and non-official members. Ex-Minister reappointed the same members who were found guilty of committing irregularities in the corporation.
In the report, on 23/02/2011 deputy Registrar Agri Cooperative Societies Jammu submitted its inquiry report to Registrar Cooperative Societies Jammu and in the report it was mentioned that no proper procedure was followed by societies while taking up several projects in the state. The magnitude of scam was not tiny but it was huge as reported as corporation till 2011 owed huge loan liability payable for Rs 550.30 lacs to LIC and Rs. 2882.23 (Principal) and Rs 12773.06 lacs to HUDCO. Besides, as per report, there was default being committed in repayment of loan payable to state Govt for Rs. 1671.29 lacs. Report further said that such misrepresented position of records of the projects created chaos which resulted that institution didn't frame its trading account in any of the year that led to circumscribe to detect the exact trade done so far by the corporation on various projects.
Such malpractices were going on in the corporation and after the detailed inquiry report, nothing was done on ground due to petty interest of Ex-Minister as no legal action against culprits was recommended and moreover they were reelected as directors in the corporation.
Report further said that no detailed clarification and justification was sought from the respective managements including the Chief Executives, who didn't overcome the fiasco and allowed wrongs to prevail for years together. |
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