Tamil Nadu mid-day meal scam

The Income Tax Department has unearthed documents that expose an alleged nexus between a major supplier of food items for Tamil Nadu’s flagship midday meal scheme and politicians, bureaucrats and their associates.

Analysis of electronic storage devices and documents seized from the premises of Tiruchengode-based Christy Friedgram Industry, its employees and others in July has revealed payment of kickbacks to the tune of ₹2,400 crore to top politicians, senior bureaucrats and their family members in recent years.

According to sources the investigating wing of the Income Tax Department had started the process of issuing summons to the suspected beneficiaries of the scam. Christy Fried gram Industry is a supplier of items like weaning food, pulses and palm oil for the noon meal programme and other welfare schemes of the Social Welfare Department.