VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Jan. 20: The Sahibganj district administration has allegedly hushed up a PDS scam in Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s assembly constituency Barhet. Ironically when a local JMM functionary and Pramukh of Patna block Zahir Sheikh raised his voice against the scam, he was allegedly threatened by Pankaj Mishra, Soren’s MLA representative.
The scam was exposed in the Patna block in Sahibganj district where food grains meant for beneficiaries of Paharia tribes under Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) were allegedly sold in the open market. The food grains are supplied under PMGKAY. It was revealed that 18000 Paharias did not get food grains during November 2021 to July 2022.
By this means, 3134.90 quintal food grains were sold in the open market valued around Rs. 1.10 crore. Official documents reveal that the Sahibganj district supply officer had even sent a show cause notice to block cooperative officer cum supply officer Jitendra Kumar. The district supply officer in a letter on September 7, last year clearly accused Jitendra Kumar of indulging in black marketing of PMGKAY food grains and directed him to deposit Rs. 10978600 amount to the government treasury else action will be taken. Official documents categorically state that it was a scam but no legal action was taken. Even the inquiry team confirmed that food grains were sold in the open market. Neither the amount was realized from Jitendra Kumar nor any FIR was lodged, Jitendra Kumar got himself transferred to some other place. 
However, later on the district administration rushed to action and mobilized food grains from other stocks for supply among Paharias. But local sources insisted that it was only the tip of the iceberg of the scam and many senior officials right from block to district level besides private persons were involved in the scam.
According to sources, Zahir Sheikh wanted to save the image of his government. But he had to pay the price for raising his voice against the scam. His office was closed and he was allegedly threatened by Pankaj Mishra from the jail.
“Paharia people had demonstrated before Sahibganj DC Ramniwas Yadav. Ideally the district administration should have taken strong action for denying foodgrains to PVTG and selling it in the open market. But the scam was hushed-up,” said a local resident of Patna block.
