AAP files Lokayukta plaint against Minister Ashwath Narayan over toolkit purchase scam for SC-ST students

Bengaluru, Aug. 2: Aam Aadmi Party delegation lodged a complaint with documented evidence to the Lokayukta of Karnataka against Minister Dr Ashwath Narayan involved in a scam in the purchase of tool kits meant for distribution to SC/ST students at industrial training centers.

After submitting a complaint with Lokayukta Justice B S Patil, AAP’s State President Prithvi Reddy spoke to the media and said, “A major irregularity has been committed in the contract to procure toolkits containing essential equipment costing Rs 22 crore for 13,000 students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes undergoing training at industrial training centres. Although AAP exposed this scam and demanded judicial inquiry, the state government did not initiate any investigation into this matter. It is deplorable to know that the state government is protecting Dr. Ashwath Narayan, who is the kingpin of this scam.”

“Intellic Systems which participated in the tender has obtained the contract by submitting fake documents. Allowing a bogus company to supply materials worth Rs 22 crore due to the influence of ministers is a clear example of 40% commission corruption by the state BJP government. When the tender was called for the first time, the tender process was cancelled as the company did not have the technical qualifications and a re-tender was called to give another chance to this company.” Bhaskar Rao ex-IPS officer and AAP’s state vice-president said.

Aam Aadmi Party state spokesperson K Mathai said, “The same company has generated fake Purchase orders to show supply of goods worth Rs.22 crores and Rs.11 crores to IT companies not in the trade of tools and equipments. There is no transaction of such amounts for the company on the GST portal proves that these purchase orders are fake. Still, secretaries and ministers of the department have given contract worth crores of rupees to the same company. Lokayukta Justice Patil should not yield to the pressure of the government and conduct an impartial inquiry. Action should be taken against Ashwath Narayan and all the culprits”

State legal Cell President Nanjappa Kalegowda, advocate Ravichandra S. Nerabenchi, and others were present.

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