Tribal funds scam: HC asks Maha to expand ambit of probe panel

The Bombay High Court today directed Maharashtra government to modify its resolution appointing a committee to probe the alleged Rs 6,000 crore scam in distribution of tribal welfare funds to include ministers and senior bureaucrats in the ambit of inquiry.
A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and G S Kulkarni was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a tribal from Nashik district, Bahiram Motiram, seeking CBI probe into alleged irregularities of purchase of materials related to tribal development schemes in the state.
The court was today informed by the government that an inquiry committee headed by retired judge M G Gaikwad had been formed to probe the alleged irregularities and make recommendations to initiate action against "concerned officers/employees".

The petitioner's lawyer Rajendra Raghuvanshi, however, took objection to the part of the resolution which said action against "concerned officers/employees". He argued that by this, the government was sparing ministers and other senior bureaucrats who are also involved in the scam.
The bench accepted this contention and directed the government to modify the resolution as "action against concerned persons" for financial and other irregularities committed by them.
The government will have to effect changes in the resolution and resubmit it to the court on February 20.

The committee will probe into funds received by the state tribal development department from 2004 to 2009 for the welfare of tribals and year-wise expenditure incurred on various schemes and non-utilised funds.

It will also look into supply of supplementary nutritional food to anganwadis in tribal areas, building and other facilities at government schools, supply of mats and beds to children in anganwadis and so on.
The committee will complete its probe and submit the report to government within six months.