Lalu's fodder scam whistle-blower explains how it was unearthed
What's the story
A special CBI court convicted former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav and 15 others in the fodder scam. This scam relates to 64 cases, wherein Rs. 950cr were systematically embezzled by bureaucrats/politicians in the name of purchasing livestock feed. However, it all started when the then-Chaibasa deputy commissioner Amit Khare noticed discrepancies in the accounts of the animal husbandry department. Let's know his story.
Revelation
How did Khare stumble across the scam?
In an HT interview, Khare explained how he stumbled across the fodder scam. Bihar government's finance department had sought a report of funds withdrawal from the animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries department for three months. The report revealed that an astronomically high figure was withdrawn . Khare found this fishy. Rs. 7-8cr were withdrawn even though there was hardly any activity in that department.
Raid
Khare decided to conduct a raid on Chaibasa treasury
Sensing something amiss, Khare raided the Chaibasa treasury, offices and farms of the animal husbandry department. They started verifying the bills. All amounted to Rs. 9.9L from the same supplier; this appeared to be bogus transactions. The district animal husbandry officer (DAHO) and his subordinates apparently fled when Khare wanted to seek an explanation. DAHO's office was also strewn with cash/fake bills.
Do you know?
Khare lodged the first FIR
Khare acted fast by sealing the offices. Cross-verification with the state's finance department revealed that the amount withdrawn from Chaibasa treasury was much more than the state's total budget for animal husbandry, which was Rs. 20-25cr. He, then, lodged the fodder scam's first FIR.
Khare
Didn't Khare fear for his career and life?
An obvious question now arises. Didn't Khare fear for his career/life while taking on Lalu? Khare, however, dismissed this notion. He says "I am glad I did not waste my time worrying about my career, family, and future, else I would have never been able to render my duty sincerely." He also lauded the press, public and government officials for standing by him.