The Rajasthan Assembly today witnessed noisy scenes as Opposition BJP tried to corner the government over the issue of supply of extra-neutral alcohol by a private company which allegedly submitted forged papers.
Opposition members fired a volley of questions at state Excise Minister Rajendra Pareek during his reply to a question asked by Deputy Leader of Opposition GS Tiwari. After around 20 minutes, Chief Whip Virendra Beniwal objected to it and urged the Speaker DS Shekhawat to take up another question.
Though the Speaker said the matter was serious, Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal and other Congress MLAs too opposed allowing more questions on the matter.
Amid vociferous protests by the Congress and BJP, the Speaker adjourned the House for one hour.
Earlier replying on the issue, Mr. Pareek informed the House that Agro Biotech Industries Limited had supplied 40,000 litres of extra-neutral alcohol to Premier Distilleries Private Limited in Puducherry by submiting forged papers to the government. But it was found that the consignment did not reach the destination.
A penalty of Rs 1,14,24000 was imposed and an FIR was filed against the firm with Ajitghar police station in Sikar.
The state excise department later conducted an inspection of the company and detected the violation of norms in other 16 permits of the company following which the government imposed another penalty of Rs 6.85 crore. The firm has so far deposited Rs 1.5 crore and handed over post-dated cheques of the remaining amount, Mr. Pareek said.
The minister also ordered an enquiry by Additional Chief Secretary CK Mathew into the matter.
