Govt sniffed BPL card scam in 2007 it self .

Deccan Chronicle; Thursday February 24, 2011,

Feb. 23: The BPL card scam is getting murkier by the day. Documents accessed through Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that the Rs 2,000 crore scam could have been avoided if one senior IAS officer and then commissioner of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS) Department had acted promptly on the directions of the state government in mid-2007 itself.

Interestingly, even though then principle secretary of the department, Ms Tara Ajai Singh, clearly framed charges against a senior IAS officer, Mr B H Anil Kumar, her successor, Mr Madan Gopal, reversed the charges. Mr Madan Gopal succeeded her as principal secretary.

According to documents obtained through RTI, the state government had framed draft articles of charges against Mr B H Anil Kumar, former commissioner ofthe department, under All India Services Rules based on the findings of the Tara Ajai Singh report. In her letter to the government, Ms Singh pointed several irregularities committed by Mr Anil Kumar when he was commissioner. But, according to sources, charges were withdrawn in a very dramatic manner immediately after the elevation of Ms Singh.

According to the report, then minister for food and civil supplies, Mr Govind M Karjol, had also directed Mr Anil Kumar on March 17, 2007, to examine and take action in accordance with law regarding cancellation of the agreement entered with Comat, a private firm, and also to suggest alternate methodology for distribution of BPL cards. However, contrary to the direction, the commissioner directed the outsourced agency to continue with the pilot project.

In Bengaluru Informal Rationing area, the outsourced agency was entrusted with the same responsibility without government approval for which the company claimed Rs 1.17 crore. Ms Tara Singh pointed out that Mr Anil Kumar's letters were like ‘commitment letters’ which helped the company claim money from the government leading to serious suspicion on Mr Kumar.

Ms Singh, in her report, also stated that Mr. Kumar refused to hand over charge as directed by his superiors while proceeding on election duty. He was also accused of not obeying his transfer order and continued to hold charge.

Interestingly, according to the file noting, then minister Mr Govind M. Karjol and then Chief Secretary Mr P.B. Mahishi also approved action against Mr Kumar. But after the elevation of Ms Singh, the government withdrew all complaints against Mr Kumar.