Pankaja Munde gets clean chit in Anganwadi scam case

The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday closed its inquiry in the Anganwadi scam case against state Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde and gave a clean chit to her.

Munde was accused by the Congress of being involved in a scam to clear purchases worth Rs. 206 crores on a single day instead of inviting tenders in violation of the norms.

However, Munde had earlier denied charges of corruption levelled at her and said that the funds released by the Centre would have lapsed if there would have been further delay.

According to reports, all government procurements over Rs. three lakh are to be made through e-tenders. However, the Maharashtra Women and Children Development Ministry cleared the overcharged purchase orders for anganwadi schools without inviting tenders.

The incident came to light after the Ahmednagar Zilla Parishad president wrote to Munde, complaining about the quality of food (chikki) distributed to tribal students under the Integrated Child Development Services.