PANAJI/PONDA: The government has named a chartered accountant Shridhar ‘Yatish’ Verenkar to hold an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in Goa Dairy, asking him to submit a report within three weeks.
The inquiry was ordered on the day when Goa Dairy chairman Madhav Sahakari ordered immediate suspension of dairy’s beleaguered managing director Dr Navso Sawant over the embezzlement allegations.
Registrar of Co-operative Societies Sanjiv Gadkar has issued an order naming Verenkar to hold the inquiry into the Goa Dairy affairs.
Gadkar told ‘The Navhind Times’ on Tuesday that the inquiry would be conducted under Section 77 of the Goa Co-operative Societies Act, adding that the government has sought the inquiry report from Verenkar in three weeks’ time.
Giving glimpses into the functioning of the ‘ailing’ Goa Dairy, Sahakari on Monday alleged that Dr Sawant has embezzled over Rs 8 crore in his six-year-long tenure.
The registrar of Co-operative Societies ordered the inquiry upon receiving complaints from Sahakari and other members of the dairy on March 14.
In a complaint to the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, the Goa Dairy chairman and other members had alleged massive irregularities in the purchases of fill-pack machine, machinery for ice-cream plant, milk purchased from outside the state, raw material for cattle feed, recruitment of employees and utilisation of funds received under the National Dairy Development Board.
Verenkar has been asked to conduct the inquiry in the alleged irregularities and re-verify the financial audit of the Goa Dairy.
Sahakari ordered immediate suspension of Dr Sawant giving the charge of managing director to dairy’s senior-most officer Dr Ajit Kossambe until the inquiry is completed.
Dr Sawant said that he is not aware of any suspension order against him, alleging conspiracy in the controversy.
“The chairman must be having personal grudge against me. He must have been upset over the suspension of a board director… With the vote-share of eight against three, the board had disqualified director Vijaykumar Patil for not attending three consecutive meetings. This decision was against the will of the chairman Sahakari… He must have been upset by it,” Dr Sawant said.
Sahakari had alleged that Dr Sawant has been purchasing various items for the dairy double the actual prices and has embezzled over Rs 8 crore in his six-year-long tenure.