Responding to BJP's allegations about the bogus ration card holders in the state, Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies minister Anil Deshmukh has said that the government would crack down on such illegal card holders.

The minister, while refuting the allegations levelled by Opposition Leader in Legislative Council Vinod Tawade that there were 54 lakh bogus ration card holders in the state, said that BJP's figure is "not entirely correct".

During the ongoing budget session, Tawade alleged that there were 54 lakh bogus ration card holders in the state. "54 lakh people have bogus ration cards. Therefore, action should be taken against those officials, who issued the cards to them," he said.

Responding to this, the minister said, "There may be some who hold bogus ration cards and the government will crack down on them."

Deshmukh also said that those, who were found to have submitted wrong or inadequate documents for the ration cards, have been asked to re-submit the necessary papers within a month, so that new cards could be allotted to them.

The minister said that computerised system would be introduced in the ration card offices across the state. "The project would be on the lines of the programme implemented in Chhattisgarh. Five districts have been selected for this pilot project," he said.

Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe alleged that in Pune alone there are around 2.75 lakh bogus ration card holders. "These bogus ration card holders are misusing it by getting their loans sanctioned and are also acquiring Aadhaar cards by indulging in unfair means," she said.