Government turns down demands for FIR; will act on report of commission inquiring into case.
In a major setback to former Maharashtra revenue minister Eknath Khadse, the state government on Tuesday admitted that his wife and son-in-law had “illegally purchased” three acres of land belonging to Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). However, in spite of repeated demands by the Opposition in the
Legislative Council, the government did not make any commitment about registering an FIR against persons involved in the said illegal purchase, immediately.
During the Question Hour in the Legislative Council, Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt raised the issue of MIDC land purchased by Mandakini Eknath Khadse and Girish Chaudhari. According to complaint registered by a local builder from Pune, Hemant Gawande,
Ms Khadse and Mr Chaudhari had purchased a three-acre MIDC land from its original owner in March 2016. The builder has also alleged that though the market price of the said land is approximately Rs 68 crore, Mr Khadse purchased it in the name of his wife and son-in-law for just Rs 3.75 crore.
In its written response, the government admitted that the land belongs to MIDC and was illegally purchased by Ms Khadse and Mr Chaudhari. However, industry minister Subhash Desai informed the House that the government had appointed an inquiry committee of Justice D.S. Zoting and the state would take action as per the report submitted by the inquiry committee.
“Justice Zoting committee has been given three months to complete the inquiry and the report will be submitted in September. Thereafter, the government will take strict action against anyone who is found guilty,” Mr Desai said.
“The commission has been given a wide scope of inquiry. It will probe whether the land notified for the MIDC can be sold or purchased, whether the land acquisition process was complete and whether there was any conflict of interest,” the minister added.
However, the Opposition was not satisfied with the government’s answer and they demanded that an FIR be registered against Ms Khadse, Mr Chaudhari and other government officials who allowed the sale of land. Congress leader Narayan Rane said that since the government has admitted that the land sale was illegal, it should not wait for the inquiry committee report.
Congress MLC Sharad Ranpise alleged that the government has lost revenue in the land deal as it was purchased much below the market price. “There are issues like evasion of stamp duty, income tax and money laundering that are also involved. Either the government should hand over the case to the CBI or it should include income tax and enforcement directorate offices in the inquiry committee,” he said.
However, Mr Desai maintained that the decision on any action against any individual would be taken only after the inquiry report of Justice Zoting is declared.
