HC questions "inaction" by Maha in Vijaykumar Gavit DA case

The Bombay High Court today questioned "inaction" on part of Maharashtra Government despite an Anti-Corruption Bureau report prima facie finding substance in the allegations against former medical education minister Vijaykumar Gavit and his family in a disproportionate assets case.
"Because of inaction, the evidence will vanish", said a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka.
The high court had earlier asked the State to take action after ACB had informed that they had found prima facie substance in the allegations against Gavit and his family.
The ACB had also stated that on holding a discreet inquiry into the assets of Gavit and his family members it had found material against them and submitted a proposal to the state government on March 5 to seek permission for an open inquiry against the minister. However, the permission was awaited.

The court had then asked the government to decide on granting permission to conduct an open inquiry against Gavit.
Before adjourning the matter by a week, the high court noted that its previous orders were not complied with and orally warned that it will be forced to take contempt action against the concerned officials if no action was taken.

The court had earlier asked the former minister to file an affidavit, declaring sources of income from which he purchased properties by paying cash as alleged in the PIL.
The PIL, seeking prosecution of Gavit and his family members, was admitted in April by the high court which had deferred the hearing till June for further interim relief.

ACB had informed the court that even before the PIL was filed, several complaints were filed with them against Gavit and his family during the period 2009 to 2012.
Hence, it held a discreet inquiry and found that prima facie there was substance against them with regard to assets disproportionate to known sources of income, ACB said.
Gavit, a senior NCP leader, was sacked from the Maharashtra cabinet after his daughter Heena got a Lok Sabha ticket from BJP to contest from Nandurbar seat.