Amul Dairy MD resigns, board refutes corruption allegation

The managing-director of Anand-based Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited, popularly called Amul Dairy, has resigned and his resignation was accepted in a board meeting yesterday, the milk cooperative's chairman Ramsinh Parmar said.

While K Rathnam's resignation comes amidst allegations of a Rs 450-crore corruption in allocation of tenders and recruitment at the dairy, Parmar refuted the charges, and also said he stepped down not over these allegations, but because of family reasons.

A statement issued by the Amul Dairy said Jayen Mehta, senior general manager (planning and marketing), has been appointed as in-charge MD of Kaira Milk Union.

The KDCMPUL is one of the 18 District Co-operative Milk Producers' Unions federated to the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited, Anand, which markets milk and milk products under the "Amul" and "Sagar" brand.

Rathnam (55) told reporters that he resigned as he wanted to spend time with family living in Tamil Nadu and the United States. "I have been thinking of resigning for sometime now."
The Amul Dairy statement also said Parmar refuted allegations of corruption as "perpetuated by rumour-mongers."