ACB wants answers from Pankaja Munde's ministry

Congress party decides to hold protests across the state to seek state minister Pankaja Munde's resignation

The Maharashtra Minister of Woman & Child Welfare Pankaja Munde seems to be in hot water what with the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) having taken serious note of an alleged Rs 206 crore scam related to the purchase of goods and materials in just one day by her department.

After receiving a formal complaint by the state Congress party, the ACB on Thursday sought a detailed explanation from the principal secretary of the Department of Woman & Child Welfare.

The ACB’s action comes close on the heels of a clean chit given by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to Pankaja and also her clarification that the purchase was done by the Department of Woman & Child Welfare within the stipulated rules and norms.

The Department of Woman & Child Welfare had issued 24 government resolutions to facilitate the purchase of goods and materials, including chikki, books and medical kits, distributed in the anganwadis across the state in February this year. Some of the goods and materials purchased and distributed in the anganwadis in one day were found to be of inferior grade.

A state government official, requesting anonymity, told Business Standard, ''This is the first stage wherein ACB has sought an explanation from the department secretary. The ACB will take a call on conducting an open inquiry as demanded by the Congress party.''

Further, the Congress party is also exploring the option of filing a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against the purported scam.

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman Sachin Sawant, who has lodged complaint with ACB, admitted that the party was currently mulling the option of approaching the high court over the alleged Rs 206 crore scam. He said a decision to that effect will be taken soon.

In a related development, the Congress party on Thursday staged a dharna and raised slogans against Pankaja at her residence in Worli in south central Mumbai. Pankaja is currently in London. The Congress party has decided to step up agitation to press for Pankaja's resignation.

A section of BJP claims conspiracy by insiders against Pankaja

A section of the BJP leaders say expose against Pankaja Munde is handiwork of certain disgruntled elements within the party. This is due to the rise of Pankaja in the state politics, especially with her being the daughter of BJP veteran late Gopinath Munde and also her emergence as the leader in the politically influential other backward classes with a following across the state.

A BJP legislator, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard: ''It looks like the job of an insider. The timing is crucial when Pankaja is in London with her family and the monsoon session of the state legislature is slated to begin from July 13. The party should remain united with Pankaja. Let law takes its own course but the central leadership should take stern action against those involved in anti Pankaja campaign.'' He did not rule out possibility of issue being raised by the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis during his meeting today with the party president Amit Shah in New Delhi.