AIADMK alleges Rs 500 crore scam in Pongal gift hampers, said- CBI investigation should be done

AIADMK has demanded a CBI inquiry into corruption in the Pongal gift hamper case. The party has filed a petition in the Madras High Court in this regard. Talking to news agency IANS, AIADMK leader and former MLA IS Inbadurai said, "There has been corruption in the Pongal Gift Hamper case and we allege that a scam of Rs 500 crore has taken place in it." Since the matter is sub-judice, I am not going to comment much but we expect a CBI inquiry into the deal.

The opposition has alleged that a dead lizard was found in a gift hamper given to a rice ration card holder in Tiruvallur. The petitioner has pointed out the poor quality of edible oil along with the presence of the used syringe in the gift hamper given to the rice ration cardholder in the Kanyakumari district.

The AIADMK has also alleged that 21 items were promised in the gift hamper packets for Pongal, while only 17 items were provided in many areas. The opposition party also alleged that there was a nexus between the contractors of Gift Hampers and the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies as well as officials of the department. He alleged that due to this tie-up, the quality of the items in the gift hampers as well as the shortage of items.

The AIADMK said in the petition that the government has announced an allocation of 1296 crore for the supply of gift hampers to 2.15 crore people. He also alleged that because of the quality of the products in the gift hampers and the shortage of items in the hampers, it was evident that there was a nexus between the suppliers, the Minister, and the Food and Civil Supplies officials, leading to poor quality of the items in the gift hampers. Along with this, there has also been a shortage of commodities. The petitioner called for a CBI inquiry to unearth the corruption involved in the distribution of gift hampers as well as the poor quality of the gift hampers.