Fadnavis clears ACB inquiry in irrigation and Maharashtra Sadan scams

Move aimed to fulfill poll promise; trouble for Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare & Chhagan Bhujbal

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave the nod to an open inquiry by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) against former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and former water resources minister Sunil Tatkare in connection with the multi-crore irrigation scam. While Pawar was the water resources minister from 1999 to 2009, Tatkare succeeded him till he resigned from the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government ahead of the Assembly elections, held in October.

Besides, Fadnavis also approved an ACB probe against former minister of public works Chhagan Bhujbal for his alleged involvement in the Maharashtra Sadan scam.

The ACB had approached the state government for permission on August 22, when the Congress-NCP government was in power. The home department approved its proposal on September 1. On October 14, ACB submitted a special report, making a strong case to launch a probe against Bhujbal.

Pawar and Tatkare announced they were prepared for any inquiry. A special investigation team (SIT), led by water expert Madhav Chitale, in its report had not cast any aspersions on Pawar and Tatkare, though it had pointed certain lapses in the implementation of irrigation projects.

SIT, formed on the demand by the Opposition in December 2012, had given its report to the government in February this year.

Bhujbal told Business Standard: “Truth will prevail.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), then in the Opposition, and several non-government organisations had alleged that within a span of seven months in 2009, the cost of 38 irrigation projects being implemented by the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) escalated to Rs 26,722 crore from Rs 6,672 crore. Thirty of the 38 projects were granted hurried approvals in only four days, including 11 on August 14, 2009, 10 in June 2009, five on July 7, 2009 and four on August 18, 2009. The Vadnere committee, in its report, observed the cost updating of 37 of the total 137 major tenders were carried as per the government norms.

The BJP had alleged irregularities in the construction of Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the construction contracts.

Fadnavis’ move is also to make it clear the BJP does not have any direct or indirect understanding with the NCP, which was termed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “Natural Corrupt Party”.

This was necessitated as NCP had extended an outside support to the BJP-led minority government and NCP had abstained during confidence motion which was passed by voice vote on November 12.

However, the situation changed after BJP's estranged partner Shiv Sena joined the government on December 5.