Fisheries scam: Shoot the messenger seems to be government mantra

A government which claims to be the most non-corrupt in the country is not only defending a minister, accused of corruption but also targeting whistleblower, who brought to light the corrupt practices of the minister and refused to buckle under pressure.

On Wednesday, DNA reported that Gujarat’s minister of state for fisheries, Purshottam Solanki was indicted by a two-bench HC judge in a Rs400 crore scam of granting fishing contracts of 58 big reservoirs of the state. The state government ‘at the highest levels’ shielded him from prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) by appointing an independent commission which decreed him innocent. 

Now, the petitioner, a fish trader from Palanpur who refused to bribe Solanki to bag the fishing contract, claims that he is being targeted by the powerful minister and his business interests are also being held to ransom.

“Solanki is targeting me in a big way because of this case. He has even influenced the local cops who were forced to take action against me, even as they admitted that the cases were false and finally filed a closure report,” Ishaaq Maradia told DNA on Wednesday.

“Two police complaints were filed against him for stealing fishes from Khedapa Vibhaag Matsya Sahakari Mandali with whom he has a sub-contract to buy fishes fished from Kadana Dam at Santrampur. The complaint was filed by a third party, not the mandali, and in fact retracted by the mandali. In April 2011, Maradia was arrested and subsequently released. One complaint has already been disposed off and the other is nearing its end," Maradia's counsel Mukul Sinha said.

Since the Khedapa Vibhaag has refused to sever its ties with Maradia, the fisheries commissioner in an order dated August 12, 2011 cancelled the five-year fishing contract of Khedapa awarded by the government in July 2008. The Mandali is shocked at this cancellation and intends to challenge this move. 46-year-old Maradia is visibly upset due to the loss it is causing to his business.

"These false police complaints against me and the cancellation of the contract is seriously damaging my business. I have suffered losses worth lakhs of rupees," he said. 

Fisheries commissioner PP Patni refused to comment on the issue claiming, "I am not aware about the details of the case." Solanki could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.