Subhash Deshmukh involved in scam, says Congress

Mumbai: Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam has levelled allegations against state cooperative minister Subhash Deshmukh over cheating with forged documents.

Mr Deshmukh’s Lokmangal Cooperative Society had appl-ied for Rs 24 crore subsidy from a Central scheme related to dairy development. But for that, the society alleged submitted forged documents, including certificates from the Maharashtra Pollution Cont-rol Board (MPCB) and other government institutions. Mr Nirupam has demanded the immediate sacking of Mr Deshmukh.

Mr Nirupam, while addressing a press conference, said, “When the minister was just an MLA, he was chairman of Lokmangal Multi-State Coope-rative Society. That time, this society had made a proposal for a milk processing and chilling unit. After becoming minister, the society, which is being run by his son, got a subsidy of Rs 24 crore under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. But the papers submitted for the subsidy are completely forged,” alleged Mr Nirupam.

Lokmangal Society has rejected the charges. “We had proposed a milk powder plant. But to complete all the legal procedures, we have appointed a consultant. There are reports of some illegalities. So, the society itself has asked the commissioner of the dairy department for an inquiry into the matter. We have not spent a rupee from the subsidy and we won’t do it until the probe is completed,” a statement issued by society read. Meanwhile, Mr Deshmukh couldn’t be reached for a comment. The minister’s office, however, pointed to the statement issued by society when approached by The Asian Age.