The Chairman of NAFED Bijender Singh is a free man now. He has been given a clean chit by the Appellate Authority and absolved of all corruption charges in the infamous tie-up losses suffered by the Nafed in 2003-5.
To how many people would I go telling them I am innocent and would they believe me, a relieved Singh told this reporter. “Now the God has listened to my anguish. For the last seven years I have not touched a penny of the Nafed and even contributed my honorarium to the cooperative federation”, he added.
Mr Bijender Singh who is known for his frankness has appealed the judgment of the Central registrar slapping a penalty of 1 per cent on him. This counted about Rs 16 crore. He appealed the judgment in the court of Additional Secretary.
The thorough enquiry absolved him as well as three other former directors of all charges. They are R S Joon, M S Danga from Rajasthan and Stanthaka from Maharashtra. All of them were found to have no voting rights in the two crucial meetings of the business committee that brought the Nafed on the brink of a financial abyss.
Recounting the old days Nafed Chairman said it was his decision to throw away a Managing Director who was out to insult the entire elected Board.All hell broke loose when i removed him. On 9th July 2010 we passed a resolution sacking the MD and July the 15 th came an ominous notice to me. The notice accused me of participating in the business meeting as the local director.
“Everybody knew I was innocent. Even the then Central Registrar said as much and hinted at the compulsions from the above, I was being framed up on a flimsy technical ground. But then law is law and once ensnared by it you have to fight a long battle to prove your innocence”, the Nafed Chairman unburdened himself to Indian Cooperative.
The charges against other Directors including Vishal Singh and Meena Singh, the son and wife of Ajit Singh would continue. Efforts to find out from them if they are going in appeal to higher courts against the judgment failed.