Panel To Serve Letter To Hazare

The Dudhat commission of enquiry, appointed by the Maharashtra government to probe corruption charges against former state agriculture minister Shashikant Sutar, has directed issue of a letter to fasting social worker, Anna Hazare, requesting him to submit an affidavit on oath regarding his allegations.

The letter, which is in the process of being drafted, would soon be despatched to the collector or assistant collector of Ahmednagar district for delivery to Hazare at Ralegan Siddi, retired Mumbai high court judge, Justice M L Dudhat, who heads the one-man commission, said.

An individual notice would be served on Sutar to enable him defend himself, Justice Dudhat said. The commission would commence formal proceedings by the second or third week of July and expected to receive all documentary evidence by June 30 which has been fixed as the outer limit, he noted. Hazare would be requested to send original documents or certified copies of authenticated documents as proofs of corruption and appoint his own advocate to lead evidence, Justice Dudhat said. If Hazare cannot afford to appoint an advocate, then the commission would appoint a government pleader to plead evidence for him, he stated. Justice Dudhat felt that if Hazare had the evidential material and was serious about it, he should place it on record under oath and submit a list of witnesses. The letter would seek Hazare's assistance for providing information in the form of an affidavit signed by himself or a statement of oath by witnesses, he noted.

 

Justice Dudhat said three persons have been appointed by the commission to administer the oath. Witnesses could depose in Marathi and cross examination would be permitted in Marathi.

While the commission would function from its allotted premises at the new legislator's hostel at Nariman Point in south Mumbai, due to exigencies, the place for holding inquiry could be shifted to Pune or other site, he clarified.

He expressed confidence that the commission would complete its probe within the stipulated time of four months from the date of its inception on May five last.

The commission also intends to prepare a notice for the public at large calling on citizens to come forward to furnish information, if any, possessed by them to assist the probe. However, the commission would insist on statements in affidavit form, either in Marathi or English, he said. The commission of inquiry was appointed to probe charges against Sutar following his prima facie indictment by Justice Puranik committee that was constituted last year in the wake of corruption charges levelled by Hazare. The commission's terms of reference include probe into alleged acquisition of property by Sutar either in his own name or that of his family members by misusing his position as a minister, encroachment on public or public utility lands and illegal transfers effected by him using corrupt practices or through undue pressure on officers competent to effect the same.