06-30-2007, 04:11 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Pratibha's mill was involved in 2002 sugar scam </b>
Pioneer.com
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
PRATIBHAGATE
Another damning disclosure has surfaced against UPA presidential nominee Pratibha Patil. The Muktabai SSK sugar cooperative factory founded by her in 1983 not only defaulted on Rs 17.7 crore loan repayment to a bank, but was also involved in a major sugar export scam that rocked Maharashtra politics in 2002-03. Â
The scam involved diversion of export-oriented sugar in domestic market by 12 factories. In 2001-02, these co-operatives had obtained export licence for 2.28 lakh tonnes of sugar, but in collusion with export agents, diverted the sugar to the domestic market. This led to the collapse of domestic sugar prices and caused major losses to sugarcane farmers besides excise evasion of nearly Rs 80 crore.
There was no excise duty on export quota whereas for the domestic market sale the duty was Rs 85 per quintal. The diverted sugar would have fetched Rs 1,050 per quintal if exported but was sold for Rs 1,250 in the domestic market.
The Muktabai SSK sugar cooperative factory, Jalgaon, with Pratibha Patil as its founding member and chairperson, was one of the 12 companies which figured in the scam. The other companies were Kedareshwar co-operative sugar factory, Ahmednagar; Poorna co-operative sugar factory, Hingoli; Hutatma co-operative sugar factory, Hatgaon Nanded; Kisan Vir co-operative sugar factory in Bhuinj, Satara; Gangapur cooperative sugar factory, Aurangabad; Vasantdada Sugar, Kalvan, Nashik; Dongrai Sagareshwar co-operative sugar factory, Sangli and Agasti co-operative sugar factory, Ahmednagar.
What could be a source of major embarrassment for the UPA is the fact that Pratibha Patil was the chairperson of the Sant Muktabai sugar cooperative factory till she became Rajasthan Governor three years ago.
Preliminary reports by the Maharashtra Government and Central Excise officials in October 2002 had confirmed the involvement of these sugar cooperatives in the scam.
The reports had named as many as 19 co-operatives, including Muktabai sugar cooperative factory, in the scam. Majority of the factories were controlled by senior politicians and Ministers belonging to the ruling Congress-led Government. The reports called for deeper probe to identify and punish the guilty persons
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
UPA had puntured India's Pride.
Pioneer.com
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
PRATIBHAGATE
Another damning disclosure has surfaced against UPA presidential nominee Pratibha Patil. The Muktabai SSK sugar cooperative factory founded by her in 1983 not only defaulted on Rs 17.7 crore loan repayment to a bank, but was also involved in a major sugar export scam that rocked Maharashtra politics in 2002-03. Â
The scam involved diversion of export-oriented sugar in domestic market by 12 factories. In 2001-02, these co-operatives had obtained export licence for 2.28 lakh tonnes of sugar, but in collusion with export agents, diverted the sugar to the domestic market. This led to the collapse of domestic sugar prices and caused major losses to sugarcane farmers besides excise evasion of nearly Rs 80 crore.
There was no excise duty on export quota whereas for the domestic market sale the duty was Rs 85 per quintal. The diverted sugar would have fetched Rs 1,050 per quintal if exported but was sold for Rs 1,250 in the domestic market.
The Muktabai SSK sugar cooperative factory, Jalgaon, with Pratibha Patil as its founding member and chairperson, was one of the 12 companies which figured in the scam. The other companies were Kedareshwar co-operative sugar factory, Ahmednagar; Poorna co-operative sugar factory, Hingoli; Hutatma co-operative sugar factory, Hatgaon Nanded; Kisan Vir co-operative sugar factory in Bhuinj, Satara; Gangapur cooperative sugar factory, Aurangabad; Vasantdada Sugar, Kalvan, Nashik; Dongrai Sagareshwar co-operative sugar factory, Sangli and Agasti co-operative sugar factory, Ahmednagar.
What could be a source of major embarrassment for the UPA is the fact that Pratibha Patil was the chairperson of the Sant Muktabai sugar cooperative factory till she became Rajasthan Governor three years ago.
Preliminary reports by the Maharashtra Government and Central Excise officials in October 2002 had confirmed the involvement of these sugar cooperatives in the scam.
The reports had named as many as 19 co-operatives, including Muktabai sugar cooperative factory, in the scam. Majority of the factories were controlled by senior politicians and Ministers belonging to the ruling Congress-led Government. The reports called for deeper probe to identify and punish the guilty persons
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
UPA had puntured India's Pride.