Malkangiri Mining Scam: Former Collector’s Claim On Hiring Car False, Says Odisha Cong

Malkangiri: Keeping up its heat on the state government over alleged scam in lease of mining of stone quarries by the former district collector Yeddula Vijay, the Congress has demanded a thorough probe into the matter.

Speaking to media persons on Monday, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee working president Pradip Madhi said the former collector’s claim of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) hiring a car has been proved false from the DRDA’s reply to an RTI application.

On June 23, Majhi had alleged that Vijay received Rs one crore and the expensive vehicle as bribe from Andhra Pradesh’s CH Venugopal, proprietor of VG Granites situated at Peta village in Motu tehsil, for awarding lease of 7 stone quarries by manipulating the tender process of Minor Mineral Sources (Sairat) held in March.

Also Read: Cong Accuses Malkangiri Collector Of Corruption, Seeks Probe Into Stone Quarries Tender Fixing

The former collector had refuted the allegation and stated that an agreement was made to hire the car and the DRDA was paying its rent from MGNREGS fund. But Majhi claimed that the DRDA’s reply to RTI application has proved the collector’s claim false.

The Congress leader said the DRDA has stated that it had neither hired any such vehicle nor provided it to the former collector. No agreement was made in this regard also, the DRDA said.

On the transfer of Vijay following the allegation, Majhi said it was an eyewash by the state government to shield the former collector and hush up the scam. It substantiates the irregularities in the tender process and is an effort to keep the innocent people of Malkangiri about the government’s wrongdoings, he added

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