Mumbai: After granting the go-ahead to probe graft charges against senior NCP leaders, the BJP-led government in Maharashtra is now focussing on allegations of graft against Congress leaders.
On Tuesday, the home department, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, asked the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to probe the role of former Congress minister Harshwardhan Patil and legislative council member Amrish Patel in an alleged cooperative bank scam.
Following Tuesday’s nod, the file recommending an “open inquiry” into the matter has now been forwarded to Chief Secretary Swadhin Kshatriya. After his approval, the proposal will be placed before Fadnavis for a final clearance.
The Chief Minister had earlier allowed ACB to launch probes into allegations of graft against former NCP ministers Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare, and Chhagan Bhujbal. Indicating that he would not stand in the way of proposals to probe allegations of corruption, Fadnavis also cleared proposals placed before him for open inquiries against senior civil servants.
The ACB had sought permission for an open inquiry in the alleged cooperative bank scam in September after its preliminary investigations found merit in allegations of corruption raised on the issue.
Ironically, Dhule’s BJP legislator Anil Gote is the complainant in this case. The controversy centers around allegations of misappropriation of Rs 144 crore in the Dhule District Cooperative Bank, of which Patel is a former director. Gote has alleged that the cooperative bank incurred heavy losses and state exchequer was hit because of sanctioning of unsecured loans and financial irregularities when Patel was at the helm.
Harshavardhan Patil, who held the Cooperative portfolio during the previous Congress-NCP regime, is under the scanner for extending a stay on action against Patel and the then directors of the bank, when bureaucrats in his department had also recommended action against the bank’s office-bearers.
“The ACB’s preliminary investigations suggest that the stay was questionable,” a senior state official said. Besides the Congress leader, the role of NCP leader Rajvardhan Kadambande is also under the scanner, according to sources. While Patil had earlier distanced himself from the controversy and rubbished allegations against him, Gote has alleged foul play by Patil in the matter
“No probe into PK content”
Overruling his colleague’s order, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that his government has no plans to probe Hindi movie PK.
On Tuesday, Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Home, Ram Shinde had ordered an inquiry against the film, after complaints by several right wing Hindu organisations claiming that the film was hurting religious sentiments of Hindus.
“The film is already certified by the censor board. There will be no other inquiry of the movie. Government will take care of screening the movie without disturbing law and order. There is no question of banning the film,” Mr. Fadnavis clarified. He added that the theatres will be provided security if needed.
Mr. Shinde had asked Deven Bharti, Special IG (Law and Order) to submit a report to the government explaining whether it hurt the sentiments of Hindus.
The right wing Hindu organisations, such as Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), have accused the movie of disrespecting Hindu religion and have sought ban. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev too had appealed to the people to boycott the film.
Actor Aamir Khan has already made a statement saying he never intended to disrespect Hindu religion through his film. “I respect Hindu religion. My Hindu friends have seen the film and they have not found anything objectionable in this movie. The 99 per cent people associated with this project are Hindus. No one would do such thing,” he had said earlier.
