CM Fadnavis orders probe against two of his ministers

Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced two separate inquiries into corruption charges against two ministers from his cabinet — the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Prakash Mehta and Shiv Sena’s Subhash Desai.

In the backdrop of the clamour from opposition ranks seeking the resignation of the two, Mr Fadnavis announced that the Lokayukta will conduct an inquiry into the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project in which housing minister Mehta is facing accusations of corruption and an independent probe into the alleged MIDC scam against industry minister Desai.

The CM made this announcement in the legislative council on Friday night.

In Mr Mehta’s case, opposition leaders were alleging Mr Mehta’s signed decision in Tardeo MP mill compound case was against interest of state and for developer’s benefits. Opposition parties’ have alleged it as `800 cr scam. In Mr Desai’s case, almost 12 thousand hectares of land of MIDC in all over state was de notified for the private benefits. Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde had called it biggest ever land scam in state of almost `60,000 crore.

Both ministers have rejected the allegations as baseless. Looking at opposition’s continuous attack, Mr Fadnavis decided to go with the inquiry. “Both ministers have clarified. But when somebody starts talking such things again and again, it makes impressions as truth. So, the government has decided to inquire the both issues,” said Mr Fadnavis, To brush out allegations of his saving tainted ministers and giving clean chits everyday, Mr Fadnavis said, “I would kick the chair if I have to make compromises of such kinds.”

CM Fadnavis also announced inquiry of Radheshyam Mopalwar, who was managing director of MSRDC and asked to sit out after allegations of corruptions were made against him. Joint special investigation team of senior IAS officer and officer from economic offences wing will probe the issue, CM Fadnavis announced.