<p align="justify">The opposition BJP on Thursday charged the government with swindling more than Rs 7,000 crore by importing sand from Malaysia and selling it at an exorbitant price in Karnataka. </p>.<p align="justify">Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar, who raised the matter in the Assembly, said that the Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL) had awarded the contract of importing 180 lakh tonnes of sand to a bogus company by name Poseidon FZE, without taking the Cabinet approval. The contract was for a period of five years.</p>.<p align="justify">"The company has given contact details and addresses which are not in existence. The company was registered in UAE after the tender process. The bank details too are sketchy. The import-export norms have also been violated," he said. Shettar said that the Axios Credit Bank mentioned in the records had no branch in Singapore.</p>.<p align="justify">Shettar, who released documents to substantiate his charges, said that the import price of sand flown from Malaysia was Rs 107 per 50 kg. He said that the sand was, however, being sold at Rs 200 per 50-kg bag. "This is an international crime and MSIL officials are involved in it. They violated the tender conditions to help the company," he said, demanding a thorough probe into the matter.</p>.<p align="justify">Industries Minister R V Deshpande assured the House that a probe would be initiated. He said that the officials would be punished if they were found guilty.</p>
<p align="justify">The opposition BJP on Thursday charged the government with swindling more than Rs 7,000 crore by importing sand from Malaysia and selling it at an exorbitant price in Karnataka. </p>.<p align="justify">Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar, who raised the matter in the Assembly, said that the Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL) had awarded the contract of importing 180 lakh tonnes of sand to a bogus company by name Poseidon FZE, without taking the Cabinet approval. The contract was for a period of five years.</p>.<p align="justify">"The company has given contact details and addresses which are not in existence. The company was registered in UAE after the tender process. The bank details too are sketchy. The import-export norms have also been violated," he said. Shettar said that the Axios Credit Bank mentioned in the records had no branch in Singapore.</p>.<p align="justify">Shettar, who released documents to substantiate his charges, said that the import price of sand flown from Malaysia was Rs 107 per 50 kg. He said that the sand was, however, being sold at Rs 200 per 50-kg bag. "This is an international crime and MSIL officials are involved in it. They violated the tender conditions to help the company," he said, demanding a thorough probe into the matter.</p>.<p align="justify">Industries Minister R V Deshpande assured the House that a probe would be initiated. He said that the officials would be punished if they were found guilty.</p>
