Arappor seeks suspension of food secretary

CHENNAI: Alleging involvement of K Gopal, who has been appointed as Food Secretary recently, in Rs. 2,000 Crore ration scam, Arappor Iyakkam has urged chief minister MK Stalin to suspend the IAS officer to enable fair investigation into the scam.

In a petition to the chief minister, chief secretary Shiv Das Meena and Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC), Jayaram Venkatesan - convenor of Arappor Iyakkam recalled a complaint filed in June 2021 against public servants of Tamilnadu civil supplies corporation and Christy group of companies for corruption to the tune of Rs 2028 Crores in procurement of Dhal, Sugar and Palmolein between the years 2015 to 2021.

The petition cited that the DVAC has initiated a detailed enquiry against former food minister K Kamaraj, officials of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and Christy Group.

"While our complaint and the annexures make out a clear appearance of cognizable offence, we learn that there is undue pressure on the DVAC to delay the enquiry and filing of FIR in the complaint. DVAC as per its manual is supposed to finish the detailed enquiry within 6 months. However, DVAC has been made to delay the filing of FIR for more than 2 years now," he added.

"We learn that Dr. K. Gopal IAS, one of the persons prima facie involved in the scam was first made the Vigilance Commissioner which ensured that DVAC cannot file a FIR against its own Vigilance Commissioner over the last several months," he said.

Jayaram also raised suspicion that Gopal has been appointed to clear work orders at rates higher than market rate for transport tenders floated recently.

"It must be noted that even though financial bids are opened for recent transport tenders, Tamilnadu civil supplies corporation has purposefully hidden the financial bid data and bidders information of transport tenders online until now," he said.

He urged the chief minister to suspend the official to ensure fair and transparent manner.