Bombay HC asks CBI to file FIR against BJP leader

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that has been attacking the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government and the Maharashtra government over corruption, today received a setback, when the Bombay High Court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a first information report (FIR) against the party’s Mumbai unit chief and former minister, Raj Purohit.

As the minister of state for housing and appellate authority during 1995-99, Purohit allegedly exempted land from the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act (ULCA) in 20 cases. Incidentally, BJP President Nitin Gadkari hails from Maharashtra and he had cleared the appointment of Purohit as the party’s Mumbai unit president.

A BJP executive member, who did not want to be quoted, told Business Standard that: “Purohit will have to resign immediately. It is also the result of internal rivalry, as Purohit hails from a camp led by BJP’s deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Gopinath Munde, and not from the Gadkari camp. The party has cut a sorry face after the high court’s order. This will make the party’s agitation against various scams and adulteration of oil and milk in Maharashtra weak.”

Purohit said, “I am yet to receive the high court order.” He declined to comment further. However, sources close to Purohit confirmed that he had been in touch with Munde to decide future course of action, including challenging the high court order in the Supreme Court.

A Congress minister said, “BJP, which always claims to be the party with a difference, is totally exposed, with the high court asking CBI to file an FIR against Purohit. The party has lost moral right to attack the government and the Congress party, in particular, as voters have realised the true colours of BJP.”