Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to take action against ex-MoS Kripashankar Singh, for corruption and disproportionate assets. The government has sought the advocate general’s legal opinion on whether the Speaker can review the decision of refusing sanction to prosecute him under the Congress-NCP regime.
Mr Fadnavis also said that the investigation against senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse in connection with the alleged land grab case in Pune will be completed soon.
Speaking about the case against Mr Singh, the CM said, “We have reopened the case of ex-CM Ashok Chavan.” Meanwhile, ex-revenue minister Eknath Khadse, too, is likely to land in hot water.
A special court in Mumbai discharged Kripashankar Singh on February 14 as the Speaker of the Assembly did not give sanction to prosecute him. It was alleged that Kripashankar Singh had acquired disproportionate assets by way of corruption.
A PIL was filed in the high court in 2014 and the complaint was filed with the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB). The high court ordered an economic offences wing (EOW) inquiry; the EOW filed a charge sheet in the special court.
The police approached the Congress-NCP government as Kripashankar Singh was ex-minister and MLA. But the Speaker refused permission to prosecute him. Kripashankar Singh filed a discharge application before the special court, and the same was allowed.
However, Mr Fadnavis is reviewing the matter. When asked what steps the BJP was taking against Kripashankar Singh now that the party was in power, Mr Fadnavis said, “The then Assembly Speaker, Dilip Valse-Patil, refused the police permission for prosecution. But we have sought legal opinion from the advocate general whether the government can reopen the case as it has done in the Adarsh scam against ex-CM Ashok Chavan. The then governor refused sanction to file a charge sheet against Ashok Chavan but this government reopened the case and governor C. Vidyasagar Rao permitted the prosecution of Ashok Chavan.”
After embarrassing the government on the rat killing corruption issue in Mantralaya, ex-revenue minister Khadse may soon land in trouble. Mr Fadnavis said, “An ACB inquiry against Mr Khadse is in the last stage.” and will be completed soon.”
