Former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has written a letter to Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Rawat alleging misuse of funds by Dr. Avinash Anand, the CEO of Uttarakhand Sheep and Wool Development board from a loan of Rs 3000 crore provided by the World Bank, comparing the scam to Bofors and Coal scandal.
In a letter dated January 5, 2021, to Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Gandhi wrote, “Before this explodes into a major scandal since the amount of the loan is Rs 3000 Crores, I would suggest that this program be stopped immediately and the appropriate action taken. This is equivalent to the scandals of coal, Bofors, etc. To steal money from a loan is the worst kind of theft since the whole country has to pay back what one man has stolen.”
She stated that the Anand has bought ‘luxury cars’ costing more than Rs 13 lakhs, residences in Noida with disproportionate assets, and has purchased fodder for twice the rates.
She added that the CEO has also taken a large number of officers in deputation in the sheep board without creating any post thereby causing veterinary hospitals in districts to shut down. “These officers have no work but get salaries. This has clearly been done after monetary gratification” the letter adds.
She said that none of this would have been possible without the involvement of another official Meenakshi Sundaram. “This is a fit case for the CBCID, CBI, and ED. All the allegations I have made have already been ascertained through RTIs some of which are attached,” she stated.
She also said that she will be forwarding a copy to the prime minister as well.
Meanwhile, the development board and Avinash Anand has not responded to any of the allegations.
