After 2G Scam, a larger and more disgusting UP Food Scam reaches the Supreme Court.

by Kv Dhananjay on Monday, April 11, 2011 at 7:49pm Corruption enthusiasts in India could not ask for more excitement! The UP Food Grain Scam issue now reaches the Supreme Court. Whoever wasn't disgusted enough with the 2G Scam will reach their nadir. Simply see 'evil' captured firsthand in the landmark and extraordinarily compassionate judgment of the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow). It is here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrom e=true&srcid=0B1fh2RGik6ynYmE0ZWQ2N2MtYzk4MS00 MDdkLWJmMWUtN2Q1MjMxZWNhYThh&hl=en http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkFInXeKQzs http://news.maars.net/blog/2010/12/07/india-witnessesmulti-crore-food-grain-scam/ A major political war breaks out over what is being called the mother of all scams emanating from one of the poorest states in India. Food grain meant for the poorest of the poor has been deliberately and systematically smuggled out of Uttar Pradesh into the open market and even to a neighboring country. Starting from 2002, under the reign of different chief ministers, the scam is estimated at over Rs 2 lakh crore. Photo: outlookindia.com

The scam leaves all political parties that have ruled Uttar Pradesh in the past decade culpable. The Allahabad High court pointed out that the scam was one which had stretched over almost 7 years and 5000 FIRs. This brought in strong reactions from the countrys political parties and the Centre. The state investigative agencies were finally asked by the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court on Friday to refer to the CBI and wrap up investigations in 6 months. The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justices Devi Prasad Singh and S C Chaurasia while allowing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a person named Vishwanath Chaturvedi seeking direction for a CBI probe into the scam. The court, in its order, issued eight directions in this matter. The CBI shall proceed with further inquiry not only with regard to Ballia, Lakhimpur and Sitapur districts but also with regard to Varanasi, Gonda and Lucknow districts, the court directed. It shall not be necessary for the CBI or state agencies to obtain sanction under the statutory provision with regard to present controversy where from initial stage, prima facie intentionally, deliberately and in a planned manner, the food grains were lifted from godowns for sale either in the open market or to smuggle outside UP or to other countries, the court directed. The UP chief secretary has been directed by the Bench to ensure that not only in the present controversy but in all cases where the state agencies, CBI or other investigating

agencies move an application for sanction under various laws, a decision should be taken within three months. In absence of any decision with due communication, it will be deemed that sanction has been accorded and charge sheet shall be filed and the trial court should proceed with trial to a logical end in accordance with the law, the court added. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati is now under pressure to order a full-scale investigation into the matter. The probe will examine the food theft starting from 2002 to the present, Times Now added. The petitioner drew the attention of the court towards the high degree of corruption prevailing in Uttar Pradesh whereby food grains meant for Below Poverty Line (BPL) card holders covered under schemes such as Antyodaya, Jawahar Rozagar Yogana and mid-day meals was smuggled not only outside the state but outside the country. A CBI probe into a multi-thousand crore scam involving the diversion of food grain meant for the poorest families in UP could embarrass Mulayam Singh and his partymen who were in power when the scam happened. The highest authorities of the state were thrashed on Friday by the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court for colluding to snatch food from Indias poorest. The court observed that there was prima facie no doubt that the food grains meant for poor and downtrodden had been black-marketed and none of it could have happened without the involvement of higher authorities.

Regards K.V.Dhananjay Advocate Supreme Court