Mumbai: BJP wants CBI inquiry into wheat price scam

Mumbai, Jun 28: Former BJP MP Dr Kirit Somaiya today demanded a CBI inquiry into the cancellation of wheat import order given in May and the subsequent import of the same at a higher price.

Talking to reporters, Dr Somaiya said the government had to pay Rs 550 crore more in this deal and alleged that a corporate house was benefited in this delay.

However, he refused to identify the beneficiary and added that it was for the CBI to find out.

Elaborating, his statement, Dr Somaiya said agriculture and consumer ministry headed by Sharad Pawar cancelled the order of importing one million tonnes of wheat at 263 dollar per tonne in May this year and now announced to import wheat at 300 dollar per tonne.

''If the government had imported wheat in May, the wheat price should have been Rs 11 instead of Rs 12.30 per kg and now since the government has announced import of 50 lakh tonne wheat, the government will have to bear an additional cost of Rs 550 crore,'' he added.

UNI