CBI probe sought in Mhada land acquisition

Opposition Leader in Maharashtra Legislative Council Vinod Tawade has demanded a CBI probe into the alleged acquisition of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) land by ministers and trusts of their relatives.

The BJP leader demanded this while reacting to a news published in a section of media on Sunday, which alleged that 20 hectares of land was sold at throwaway prices between 1999 and 2003, with politicians or their trusts as beneficiaries.

Tawade claimed he had raised the issue of allotment of Mhada land at prime locations by state government's sub-committee to the trusts of ministers, on the floor of the House.

Present Rural Develop-ment Minister Jayant Patil, NCP MLA Nawab Malik, former Congress MLA Sayyed Ahmed and five other members were part of the sub-committee from 1999-2003. Sitting MLA Madhu Chavan was the Mhada chairman at that time. “The sub-committee had sold 65 lands of Mhada at throwaway prices to their relatives and trusts.”

He said that he would once again raise the issue in the coming Monsoon Session of the state Assembly.

"We will force the government to table the action taken report," he said, adding that he would insist the government to protect the remaining tracts of land. "As the ministers and MLAs are trying to cover up the issue, the matter should be handed over to the CBI."