Nomination of TDAP scam’s accused as leader stuns FIA
MUHAMMAD ALI
KARACHI: A staggering nomination made by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) of one of the accused of TDAP’s multi-billion scam as leader of a business delegation for Europe has raised serious questions about the authority.
Mehmood Ahmed Rangoonwala of M/s Terry World Textile, Karachi, who reportedly defrauded TDAP to get Rs. 74.77 million fake trade subsidy, has been named by the Chief Executive of TDAP to lead a business delegation to Europe, a letter of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sent to secretary TDAP and DG, Textile & Clothing Division, TDAP, said.
The letter said that a case was registered against the accused (Rangoonwala) on the receipt of complaints from Ministry of Commerce. According to the charges against the accused, he fraudulently and through deceitful means received an amount of Rs. 49.266 million on account of establishing office abroad for the period from December 1, 2009 to March 31, 2011 and April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012.
Besides, according to the letter, the accused was also found recipient of bogus General Freight Subsidy claims of Rs. 25.511 million. Thus the M/s Terry World Karachi received through fraudulent means a total Rs.74.777 million.
The bail applications of accused (Rangoonwala) and his partners were rejected by the Court of Special Judge Central-I Karachi. Presently, they are on interim bail granted by the Sindh High Court.
The letter said that during investigation, it was further established the accused Mehmood Ahmed Rangoonwala while giving illegal gratification to TDAP officers and others through their front man lftikhar alias Iffi, also gave 100 acres of land in Kotri to him towards illegal gratification. Presently, the 100 acres land has been secured under section 5(5) of FIA Act 1974.
The FIA letter further said: “It is astonishing to note that a person who defrauded/cheated the TDAP and plundered the government’s funds through fraudulent means has been appointed by CE TDAP to lead the delegations at the expense of TDAP.”
The letter further said that this attitude of TDAP would definitely damage the prosecution case and it would be a message to trial court and higher court that the case has been lodged with mala fide intention by FIA on the complaint of Ministry of Commerce.
The FIA has sought clarification from TDAP under what circumstances Rangoonwala has been nominated as leader of a business delegation for Europe. Besides, TDAP has also been directed to provide the details of expenses borne by the authority on the delegation along with particulars of members of the delegation for further necessary action in the case.
