HC raps Maha government for inaction against officials in scam

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday slammed the Maharashtra government over its inaction against bureaucrats and others in an alleged Rs 6,000 crore scam of tribal welfare funds and said irrespective of ideologies officials shield members of their fraternity in such cases.

While making the scathing remarks, a division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and R I Chagla said since 2014, the government had been "dilly-dallying" over the issue and not taking any concrete steps against the errant officials.

The HC was hearing a public interest litigation filed in 2012 by an adivasi from Nashik district, Bahiram Motiram, seeking a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in purchase of materials related to tribal development schemes in the state.

After the PIL was filed, a committee was set up by the government under the chairmanship of a retired HC judge to inquire into the allegations.

The committee, in its report, noted that funds received by the tribal welfare department of the state government was misappropriated and siphoned off.

Following the report, over 70 FIRs were lodged and departmental inquiry was initiated against 13 government officials.

Tribal welfare department principal secretary Manisha Verma, through an affidavit on Wednesday, submitted that of the 13 officials, four have been suspended and approval for similar action against the remaining nine is pending before the minister concerned.

The affidavit said information regarding the criminal cases in the scam could not be obtained as police officials concerned were not cooperating.

Irked with this, the court said, "All this is just an eyewash. Does the principal secretary seriously want us to accept such an affidavit where she is saying that she is unable to get information from the police."