Jaipur, January 8 (Udaipur Kiran) : The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Rajasthan, has registered a case after uncovering a scam of more than ₹2,000 crore in the state-run Mid-Day Meal Scheme during the Covid-19 period. The case has been filed against 21 named accused, including officials of CONFED and several private firms.
During the period when schools were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government had arranged the supply of combo food packs containing pulses, oil and spices to school students under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme through CONFED. These supplies were claimed to meet FSSAI and AGMARK standards and were delivered to schools through door-step delivery. Following complaints of large-scale irregularities and corruption in the implementation of the scheme, the ACB initiated a preliminary inquiry.
The ACB’s preliminary and subsequent detailed investigation revealed that officials associated with the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and CONFED allegedly acted in collusion and deliberately altered rules. As a result, eligible and qualified firms were kept out of the tender process, while favoured firms were given undue benefits and awarded tenders. These firms allegedly further sublet the work illegally, creating an organised network of fake suppliers and transporters.
The investigation also found that in several cases, inflated and forged bills were submitted without actual purchase or supply of goods, and government payments were obtained on that basis. Through this planned fraud, forgery and collusion, the state exchequer is estimated to have suffered a direct financial loss of around ₹2,000 crore.
Based on the findings, a case has been registered with the ACB against the officials and entities involved during the scheme period. The accused include Sanwataram, Assistant Accounts Officer; Rajendra, Manager (Civil Supplies); Lokesh Kumar Bapna, Manager (Civil Supplies); Pratibha Saini, Assistant Manager; Yogendra Sharma, Manager (Planning); Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, Manager; Ramdhan Bairwa, Godown Keeper; and Dinesh Kumar Sharma, Supervisor, all associated with CONFED.
Other named accused include Kanwaljeet Singh Ranawat, Madhur Yadav, Tribhuvan Yadav, Satish Mulchand Vyas, Deepak Vyas, Ritesh Yadav, Shailesh Saxena, Regional Manager, Central Bhandar; B.C. Joshi, Deputy Manager, Central Bhandar; Chandan Singh, Assistant Manager, Central Bhandar; along with M/s Tirupati Suppliers, M/s Jagrat Enterprises, M/s MT Enterprises, the proprietor of M/s Sai Trading, and other related persons.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
