FIR against IAS, ex-IAS officer for misappropriation of funds

Police today filed an FIR against nine persons, including a serving and a former IAS officer, for alleged misappropriation of funds, in a case pertaining to disbursal of Rs 2.43 crore to a milk cooperative in Beed district during the Congress-NCP rule in the state.
Those named in the FIR registered this evening by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police, include Labour Commissioner Yashwant Kerure (IAS), former IAS officer R D Shinde and MD of Patoda Taluka Doodh Utpadak Sangh, Mahadev Bangar, a police official said.
The Doodh Utpadak Sangh is promoted by Ramkrishna Bangar of NCP. He is also the director of the Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Dudh Mahasangh Maryadit (Mahanand), the apex federation of district and taluka milk unions.

In 2011, the Doodh Utpadak Sangh sought funds from the state government under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) National Agriculture Development Scheme. It was given Rs 2.43 crore in two phases -- in 2011 and 2013.
In 2013, the Sangh disbursed Rs 1.25 crore to Indotech Industrial Solution Pune, owned by one Bhausaheb Janjire, towards expansion, machinery purchase and necessary construction.
However, the dairy officer in Beed reported that till 2015, the company did not supply necessary equipment. It was also noticed that two other bidders, who lost to Indotech, were Global Telecom and Phoenix Energy Solutions, which were not connected to the dairy business.

Since 2009, there has been no audit of the Sangh accounts, the police official said.

Former dairy development minister Eknath Khadse had initiated an inquiry against the Sangh to unearth corruption, he added.
Shinde was the dairy commissioner in 2011 when the Sangh report was sent to state government for disbursal of funds. Kerure, who was the dairy commissioner in 2013, also ignored the fact that there was no audit of the Sangh.
Of the disbursed amount, the government could recover the remaining Rs 1.18 crore, which is still in the Sangh coffers, the official said.
The EOW of Mumbai Police is investigating the case.