Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday gave “last chance” to the Maharashtra government to submit the probe report into the allegation against senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse, who is allegedly involved in an illegal land deal. The court asked the state to submit the report within a week.
The division bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Dr Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi in January had expressed dissatisfaction over delay by the government in initiating police investigation into the allegation and had sought a report about the investigation on February 6. It is alleged Khadse purchased a three-acre plot near Bhosari in MIDC, Pune at a throwaway price of '3.75 crore from the original owner in the name of his wife Mandakini and son-in-law Girish Chaudhary when the market value of the land was '31 crore.
However, instead of submitting the investigation report, advocate Niteen Pradhan government counsel sought more time. The HC bench was annoyed with the constant delay and said it can give one week’s time and if the report is not filed by next week than the court would be forced to pass “certain orders.”
The HC was hearing a PIL filed by Hemant Gavande, a Pune-based social activist and builder by profession seeking setting aside of an inquiry committee, terming it to be ‘toothless’, which was set to probe allegations against Khadse in the MIDC land deal.
Mr Gavande has sought a CBI probe in the case. Khadse, who was no. 2 in Maharashtra cabinet, had stepped down in June 2016 in the wake of the allegations.
The petitioner has alleged that Khadse, as a sitting minister of revenue department had purchased the land belonging to the MIDC by violating certain rules. The petition has sought a direction to the CBI, Central Vigilance Commission and Income Tax department to take cognisance of the complaint filed by him against Khadse in Pune on May 30, 2016. According to Mr Gavande’s complaint registered with the Bund Garden police station, the former minister misused his official position to purchase the land “owned and acquired” by MIDC.
