Advocate files complaint with Lokayukta alleging Rs 600 cr corruption in food supply to anganwadis

BENGALURU: A city-based advocate has loged a complaint with the Lokayukta alleging corruption to the tune of Rs 600 crore in the Women and Child Development Department in supply of nutritious food to children.

According to the complaint filed by advocate Nataraj Sharma, Christy Fried Gram Company, a blacklisted firm, was given the contract with the connivance of Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar and the department officials. The high court had ordered that nutritional food supplied to anganwadis by contractors is of poor quality and hence, local social organisations should be entrusted with the task. But the order has been ignored and the tender awarded to a blacklisted company, the complaint noted.

The complaint has named Women and Child Developement Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, Principal Secretary J C Prakash and the department director while alleging that the minister got 10 per cent commission through the illegal tender.

Speaking to reporters, advocate Nataraj Sharma said, “The high court had directed that local social groups should be involved, but there is corruption in food supply. The Christy Friedgram Company had been supplying food material to anganwadis since 2011, but since it was of poor quality, the firm was blacklisted. Now, the tender has been awarded to three entities which belong to the same group”.

Advocate Nataraj Sharma with a copy of the complaint filed with the Lokayukta.

The advocate pointed out that the tenders were awarded to Harihareshwara Mahila Udyog Swasahaya Sangha, Shivamogga; Renukadevi Pragatipara Mahila Seva Sangha, Belagavi and Sanjeevini Mahila Vilas Seva Sangha, Kalaburagi.

“The entities have BIS certification, but no technical equipment or lab facilities. There are no such companies at the Bengaluru addresses mentioned. An agreement was signed on December 12, 2022 for supply of food material with them and the order was issued on October 21, 2023 on monthly commission of Rs 150-200 crore per month”, he alleged.