Sumul Dairy row: Leaked audio recording exposes infighting within top brass, sparks police probe

Indian Express

4 days ago

With the Sumul Dairy election for the board of directors (management committee) approaching, the infighting between two prominent BJP members and cooperative leaders, Sumul Dairy Chairman Mansingh Patel and Vice Chairman Raju Pathak, has come to the fore.
The controversy, according to sources, allegedly stems from a leaked two hour seven minute-long audio recording of a recent board meeting, during which the members were involved in a heated discussion, which went viral. Following the audio leak, Sumul Dairy Managing Director Arun Purohit filed a complaint with the Surat Police Commissioner, alleging the recording was 'illegal' and requesting action.
The present term of the board of directors will end on August 8. The dates for the elections are yet to be announced. Sumul Dairy comprises 19 directors, out of which 16 are elected and three nominated.
Purohit on Saturday submitted a written complaint to Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut stating: 'On July 12, a meeting of Sumul Dairy Board of Directors was held during which all the elected and nominated members were present. During the meeting, the ongoing issue of 23 milk societies mixing chilled milk, reportedly brought from Maharashtra, with local warm milk and supplying it to Sumul Dairy was discussed, following which chairman Mansingh Patel sought to impose a penalty of Rs 3.25 crore on the milk societies involved in the act, said sources.
'During the meeting, one group sought waiving off the penalty while another group pushed for recovery of the penalty,' Purohit mentioned in the complaint.
'According to the rules, discussions and decisions taken during the meeting should be kept confidential, however, a few members recorded the 2.07 hour-meeting and shared it on different social media platforms,' stated the complaint.
Purohit requested the police 'to investigate the matter and find the culprits involved in circulating the audio recording'.
The complaint was transferred to the Surat Crime Branch. Based on the complaint, the crime branch officers recorded the statements of Purohit on Monday and initiated an investigation into the matter, said police sources.
One of the directors of Sumul Dairy, on the condition of anonymity said, 'During the meeting, the issue of mixing of milk was discussed. At least 23 milk societies of Surat and Tapi which are reportedly getting chilled milk from Maharashtra Milk Cooperative and mixing it with the local warm milk before supplying to the Sumul Dairy. The cooperative societies, as per the rules, are not allowed to bring milk from outside and mix it with the local milk. It affects the quality of the milk also. The incident came to the notice of Chairman Mansingh Patel, who slapped a penalty notice of Rs. 3.25 crore on the said milk societies.'
Sources within the Sumul Dairy stated: 'The lobby against Chairman Mansingh Patel sought waiving off of the penalty imposed on the cooperative societies. The opposition lobby is backed by the current Vice Chairman Raju Pathak. During the July 12 meeting, a heated discussion took place over the issue, following which the audio recording of the same was leaked on social media'. In the video, remarks of four directors — Songadh Taluka Milk society elected member Kanti Gavit, Mandvi society Resa Chaudhary, Nizar society Bharat Patel, and Uchhal Society Sunil Gamit, have gone viral.
Surat Crime Branch sources said: 'A probe has been launched into the matter to identify the individual responsible for recording the entire conversation and sharing it on social media. Those who had received the audio clips, including the four directors, will also be called for recording their statements.'
Another Sumul Dairy director, on the condition of anonymity, said, 'The Sumul Dairy has around 2.30 lakh members who are associated with at least 1,002 milk cooperative societies located in Surat and Tapi districts. These members elect the board of directors. Out of 19 board members, 16 are elected and 3 are nominated, one each from National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), and the district registrar.
'Every five years, the election for the board of directors is conducted by the district collector. This year, the board's term will end on August 8. Chairman Mansinh Patel has been holding the post for the last eight years,' said the director quoted above.
Chairman Mansingh Patel and Vice Chairman Raju Pathak remained unavailable to comment on the matter.