Fresh Probe Ordered Into Sugar Scam, Govt Tells Sc

In a new turn to the 1993 sugar scam case, the government yesterday told the Supreme Court that it had ordered a fresh inquiry to ascertain substance, if any, in the allegation that former food minister Kalpnath Rai had acted in a malafide manner while delaying sugar imports.

The new probe, initiated on a public interest petition, will examine the issue on the basis of the Gian Prakash Committee report and the entire government records relating to the decisions made on sugar supply in the 1993-94 sugar season.

The exercise is meant to ascertain whether any malafides were established on the part of any public servant involved in the decision-making process in the relevant period, the government said.

Making a statement before a division bench comprising Chief Justice J S Verma and Justice B N Kirpal, the attorney general, Ashok Desai, said the inquiry is to be conducted by two retired officials