n administrator appointed n Next HC hearing on August 25
the goan I network
PANAJI
Eight of the 11 directors at the Goa Dairy board were on Tuesday disqualified by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies amid charges of fraud and corruption in the Goa State Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Goa Dairy).
In an order, the Registrar has also appointed Vilas Naik, Deputy Director at the Animal Husbandry department, as administrator of Goa Dairy.
The eight directors who have been disqualified are Shivanand Pednekar, Dhananjay Desai, Vithoba Desai, Baburai Desai, Naresh Mallik, Gurudas Parab, Madhav Sahakari and Rajendra Sawant.
The State government had directed the registrar to take action by August 10.
Speaking to The Goan, Assistant Registrar G R Kajoli said an inquiry would be conducted into the misappropriation of funds and other frauds, adding that those responsible would be held accountable.
“The next hearing in the matter, which is before the High Court of Bombay at Goa, will be held on August 25. The high court has set a time limit of four months for the matter to be resolved,” said Kajoli.
He said retired Goa Dairy MD Dr Navso Sawant will also subjected to an inquiry. “The inquiry will reveal the quantum of the scam in the Goa Dairy,” Kajoli said.
The Goa Dairy has been in the midst of several controversies, with allegations of irregularities being levelled against some directors and the managing director. Some dairy farmers had even gone on a recent strike to demand the removal of Dr Sawant as managing director.
Last month, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, had, on the floor of the House, given an assurance that there would not be any political interference in the matter.
The chief minister was adamant that the government would punish all the persons involved in the alleged scam which has been plaguing Goa Dairy.
The chief minister’s assurances were in response to concerns raised by legislators