Give info on rice scam: CIC to Centre

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Centre to respond to an RTI application and disclose details of the investigation into the Rs 2500-crore rice export scam during the UPA 1 regime.  Information Commissioner Sushma Singh directed the chief public information officer and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to respond to the queries of B R Khorana on the names of companies involved and persons jailed. 

Brushing aside the government’s contention that revealing the information may hinder investigation by the CBI and the Central Vigilance Commission, the CIC, after a detailed hearing, set a two-week deadline for disclosing information on the “current status.”

“During the hearing, the respondent (ministry officials) submitted that the information sought by the appellant (Khorana), is presumably regarding export of rice, on which departmental enquiry is being conducted against certain officials of the PSUs concerned. At the time of reply to the RTI application, the matter was being considered for investigation by the CBI as well as for internal departmental proceedings. However, at a later stage, the internal departmental proceedings were initiated against certain officials of the PSUs concerned, which had not yet been concluded,” the commission noted.