No leakage of 26/11 report, says Maha CM

Refuting allegations by Opposition that the report of a high-level committee on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks was leaked to the media, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today assured the Legislative Council that it would be tabled in the Legislature during the ongoing session.

"The report was submitted to me in presence of media. Panel member Ram Pradhan merely lauded young police officers for their work during the attacks. It does not mean that the report was leaked... It would be tabled in the House before the end of the ongoing session of the Legislature," Chavan told the House.

"I haven't read the report because it was given to the Chief Secretary for further action," the chief minister said.

On objections raised by opposition leaders about Bhalachandran, the other member of the two-member committee, expressing dissatisfaction over police role during the attacks on his blog, Chavan said he would enquire into the matter.

Unsatisfied by the chief minister's reply, the Opposition walked out of the House. Earlier, the House was adjourned four times on the same issue.

Objecting to Pradhan's comments even before the report was tabled in the House, Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Raote demanded immediate discussion on it.

"We came to know about the report through media. In fact, it should have been tabled in the House first," he said.

Terming Pradhan as "irresponsible", BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said how can Pradhan give a clean chit to police despite the report being confidential.