Known as a high profile cooperator once upon a time the downfall of Vipul Chaudhary has not been quick and sudden. He was out first from the GCMMF and later from Mehsana. The worst thing is he cannot stage a comeback at least for the next three years.
And now the Gujarat government has issued a notice to Vipul Chaudhary, for recovery of over Rs 40 crore which the Mehsana-based Doodhsagar dairy lost due to his alleged corrupt practices, reports PTI.
The notice was issued by the state registrar of cooperative societies Nalin Upadhyay who has asked him to personally appear in his office on June 27 with his response.
Source says the coop dairy lost Rs 41.83 crore due to his corrupt practices. Notices have been sevred to Chaudharay on three grounds under section 93 of Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act.
These include case related to the supply of cattle feed worth Rs 22 crore to Maharashtra, second is about a sugar purchase and the third is about huge difference of stock in the dairy which came to light after an internal audit.
Being a Congressman he shifted to BJP camp when Narendra Modi was growing in strength but he kept his options open and also hobnobbed with Congress leaders including Sankar Singh Vaghela and others. His is a case of falling between two stools, said a commentator keeping close tab of Gujarat co-operative politics.
The saga of Vipul’s downfall began in 2013 when majority of Board members of GCMMF wanted to remove him by moving a no-confidence motion against him.
Chronology
1.14 Directors of the Board submitted a requisition letter dated 23/24-10-2013 to MD, GCMMF for arranging the GCMMF Board meeting to discuss “No confidence motion” against Sh. Vipul Chaudhary, Chairman, GCMMF.
2.Accordingly, as per provisions of the bye-law No.26.2.16, a Board meeting notice dated 23-10-2013 was issued by MD to the GCMMF Board of Directors for the meeting to be held on 26-10-2013.
3.The said notice was challenged by Shri Vipul Chaudhary in the Gujarat High Court where in stay granted on Board meeting to be convened on 26-10-13 for no confidence motion.
4.The above stay order challenged in Division Bench and vide order dated 4-12-13, Division Bench modified the order of the Single Judge and granted permission to convene the Board Meeting to discuss No Confidence Motion.
5.In the meeting dated 5-12-2013, 14 out of 16 Directors, unanimously passed the Resolution of No confidence motion against Chairman, GCMMF.
6.Shri Vipul Chaudhary challenged the order of Division Bench before the Hon’ble Supreme Court. However no relief was granted and as per direction of Supreme court, new Chairman of GCMMF was elected on 1-8-2014.
7.After arguments of both the side, Supreme Court finally, passed order dated 19-3-2015 and dismissed appeal filed by Sh. Vipul Chaudhary and hold that democratic principles have to be read into the statute pertaining to Co-op Societies and hence there is a power to pass “no confidence” motion.
8.Further, the Government of Gujarat had issued an order on 12-3-2015 under Section 76/B of Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act removing Sh Vipul Chaudhary as Chairman of Mehsana District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd. Mehsana in view of the corruption and financial irregularities amounting to Rs 1200 crores.
This dismissal was done to protect the interest of millions of milk producers. The said order was challenged by Sh Vipul Chaudhary in the Hon. Supreme Court. Hon. Supreme Court refused to grant any relief vide order dated March 20th, 2015and directed him to approach appropriate forum before 30th March 2015.
9.Accordingly Sh Vipul Chaudhary approached Appellate Authority of Government of Gujarat to stay the order under Section 76/B. However, vide order dated 27th March 2015, the Appellate Authority has rejected his application to stay the said order. Therefore, Shri Vipul Chaudhary had filed petition in the Hon. High Court of Gujarat to stay the above orders. However, Hon. High Court of Gujarat has also refused to grant any relief to him and therefore, he has to vacate his office as Chairman, Mehsana Milk Union w.e.f 30th March 2015. He has been disqualified to contest any election of any cooperative society for a period of 3 years nor hold any post in any cooperative society for 3 years. The MD of Mehsana Milk Union has announced his removal as Chairman Mehsana Milk Union vide office order MD/14-15/25238 dated 30th March, 2015.
10. On 14.06.2016 the Gujarat government has issued a notice to former chairman of Mehsana-based Doodhsagar Dairy, Vipul Chaudhary, for recovery of over Rs 40 crore which the dairy lost due to his alleged corrupt practices. He has to respond by June 27,2016.