Co-operative minister Ramadhar Singh. Telegraph picture

Patna, March 24: The state government has put under scrutiny Bihar State Co-operative Marketing Union Ltd (Biscomaun), the apex body of co-operative societies in the state and the last citadel of the RJD.

In response to two questions related to irregularities in Biscomaun, co-operative minister Ramadhar Singh declared he would order a vigilance probe on Thursday itself. “As soon as this House concludes today, I will call the principal secretary of my department and order a vigilance probe,” the minister said.

BJP MLA Vinay Kumar Singh raised two questions. In the first, he pointed out that Biscomaun was the state agency for supplying coal to small and medium consumers in Bihar. However, Vinay Singh added, Central Coalfields Limited, in a letter to the state government in September 2006, had alleged that the apex cooperative body was supplying coal to fake and non-existing industrial units in Bihar. He also pointed out that the industry department had alleged that Biscomaun was engaged in black marketing of coal in the name of supplying to fake and closed units.

The minister, in his reply, agreed to the charges levelled by the BJP member and even went to the extent of declaring that he would write to the state mines department to cancel the licence of Biscomaun to sell coal in the state. The BJP demanded a CBI probe. Ramadhar said he would order a vigilance probe.

The second question of the BJP legislator was also related to corruption in Biscomaun again and irregularities related to procurement of foodgrain from farmers by Biscomaun. Vinay Singh alleged that in spite of the efforts of the Rohtas district magistrate, the regional Biscomaun official had not made available the relevant documents. The minister again accepted the charges made by the MLA and even expressed willingness to get the matter probed by a House committee. However, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi pointed out that since the earlier charge had been handed over to the vigilance, this one should be probed by the same agency.

The RJD bench was silent during the proceedings. Modi took a dig at the RJD bench and declared that he was wondering why the Opposition was silent on such an important issue. “Since you (the treasury bench) is overactive in this matter I have decided to remain silent,” said Opposition leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui.

RJD circles pointed out that the NDA government has not been able to take over Biscomaun in spite of several legal wrangles. Earlier, the decision of the government to supersede the board of directors was shot down by Patna High Court. “The move to hold a vigilance probe is aimed at disturbing the RJD dominated body,” remarked a RJD leader.

Biscomaun chairman Sunil Singh, who is considered close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad, said he did not have any objection to a vigilance probe. “Patna High Court has already quashed the first charge made on coal. In the second case, I had initiated action against the guilty,” he said.

Sunil Singh insisted the decision was politically motivated. “I will quit if the present cooperative minister can say the full form of Biscomaun,” the chairman said.