Udupi Zilla Raitha Sangha said on Friday that it will launch an indefinite dharna in front of Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Sugar Factory, Brahmavar from February 22.
It is to seek action against some officials and management committee members of the factory as, the sangha alleged, there were irregularities in the sale of scrap items at the factory.
Addressing presspersons in Udupi on Friday Satish Kini, general secretary of the sangha, alleged that though 2,266.06 tons of scrap items worth ₹21.92 crore were sold in six months from January, 2022, the factory authorities have entered it as 46 loads of scrap items worth ₹11.36 crore. “With this the factory has incurred a loss of ₹14 crore,” he alleged.
Mr. Kini alleged that items were not bifurcated though there were copper, brass, aluminium and iron whose value varies.
“There were huge irregularities in selling the scrap from the factory as the e-way bill, way bridge receipts and gate pass from the factory, which is not crushing sugar canes now, were not maintained,” he alleged.
‘‘We complained about this to Brahmavar police on December 5, 2022. But as police did not accept the complaint, a private complaint was filed before the court. The court then passed an order to Brahmavar police to investigate the matter. However, since government officials are also named as accused in the case among other accused, the police wrote to the Home Department seeking permission on August 14, 2024 to probe the matter. But six months have gone by, even now the home department of the State government has not given the permission to police to investigate the case,” Mr. Kini said.
He said that farmers need justice hence the dharna will be launched.
It may be mentioned here that earlier the factory had denied the same allegations made by Congress leaders. It had said that no irregularities have taken place in selling the scrap items.
Published - February 21, 2025 09:15 pm IST
