CONDUCTS SEARCHES AT SIX PLACES
Laksheep (Face2News)
The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against four accused including a Member of Parliament, Union Territory of Lakshadweep; a private person, resident of Lakshadweep; a private company based at neighbouring country; then Managing Director of Lakshadweep Co-operating Marketing Federation(LCMF) & unknown public servants/unknown private persons.
Earlier, a Joint Surprise was conducted by CBI and Vigilance Officials of UT, Lakshadweep on 24.06.2022.
During Scrutiny of the documents relating to Lakshadweep Co-operative Marketing Federation (LCMF), it was allegedly found that in the year 2016-17 on a false assurance of said MP, Lakshadweep that a foreign buyer of neighbouring country was willing to purchase/import Massmeen (Tuna fish) at higher rate than the prevailing rate, LCMF procured approximately 287 MT of Massmeen (Tuna fish) from the fishermen of Lakshadweep Islands. They were given assurance of payment at higher rates (@ Rs. 650/- per Kg) against the prevailing rates ( @ Rs. 250/- per Kg).
It was further alleged that the procurement was done by then MD of LCMF, without following norms and without floating any tender. It was also alleged that a private person, resident of Lakshadweep (also a relative of said MP) was representative of the said company of neighbouring country.
It was alleged that the accused had arranged a Cochin based Massmeen (Tuna fish) exporter and as per the arrangements, the said exporter’s company based at Cochin received the first consignment of 10 MT of Massmeen from LCMF for which it paid Rs.60 Lakh (approx) to LCMF and exported the Massmeen(Tuna fish) to the said company of neighbouring country. However, the said exporter company of Cochin did not receive payment from the company of neighbouring country and thus suffered a loss of Rs.60 Lakh(approx) following which it refused to lift rest of the Massmeen (Tuna fish) from LCMF. It was further alleged that the LCMF subsequently auctioned remaining Massmeen (Tuna fish) at a rate less than the prevailing market rate, as a result of which the poor fishermen of Lakshadweep Islands and LCMF suffered losses to the tune of Rs.9 crore(approx).
Searches are being conducted today at six places including at Andrott Island (Lakshadweep), Calicut (Kerala) and New Delhi.
Investigation is continuing.
