Bikram S Majithia demands CBI probe into Rs 1000 – Rs 1,500 crore ‘panjeeri’ scam executed under the direct supervision of CM Bhagwant Mann.

Bikram S Majithia demands CBI probe into Rs 1000 – Rs 1,500 crore ‘panjeeri’ scam executed under the direct supervision of CM Bhagwant Mann.

(Says CM closed down Verka plants to hand over contracts for manufacturing rations to be given to lactating mothers and infants to black listed private companies)

Chandigarh 12 March ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia today demanded a CBI probe into a Rs 1000 crore to Rs 1,500 crore scam being done under the direct supervision of chief minister Bhagwant Mann in the procurement and supply of rations provided to lactating mothers and children through Anganwadi workers in Punjab. Addressing a press conference here, the SAD leader said Bhagwant Mann in his role as Cooperation minister had deliberately given private contracts for the supply of the rations, particularly ‘panjeeri’, to black listed private companies since 2022 against the norms of the central government’s Integrated Child Healthcare (ICH) Programme.  

Explaining the modus operandi of the scam, Bikram Majithia said first the AAP government closed down five plants which were manufacturing ‘panjeeri’ for distribution to lactating mothers and infants. “Then in a devious move the responsibility of manufacturing the food product was given to Markfed which in turn allotted the tenders for the same to four private companies. All four companies were given the tender in the space of one hour and all four of them have the same address”.

Asserting that this state of affairs was continuing since 2022 with an annual outlay of Rs 500 crore and that the tenders of the companies were being extended annually, Majithia said “in this process the chief minister has engineered a scam which has endangered the lives of our mothers and infant children”. He said the poor quality of the food products being produced by the four private firms – Chandigarh Sweets, Interlink Foods, Prakash Masala and MP Agrotonics had been pointed out by departmental staff including a CDPO who was suspended before being reinstated when he threatened to spill the beans and also the then Milkfed Chairperson Narender Shergill. “Interestingly Shergil was forced to resign days after he spoke on the closure of the Verka plants making ‘panjeeri’ as well as the substandard stuff being supplied by private parties who were using refined oil instead of ‘desi ghee’ used by Verka in March 2025”.

Asserting that the Aam Aadmi Party government was playing with the lives of lactating mothers and infant children, Mr Majithia demanded the chief minister explain why he was giving contracts to black listed firms who were supplying sub standard and even fungus infested ‘panjeeri’. He said this was all the more important because senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh had demanded the resignation of the Madhya Pradesh chief minister for presiding over a scam involving procurement of rations under the same central programme by giving contracts to the same private parties who were under a cloud in Punjab now. Majithia said only a CBI probe could reveal the extent of the scam and expose all those involved and ensure appropriate punishment to them.