Speed up inquiry against Pawar, directs HC
Former Maharashtra deputy CM and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar found himself in further trouble with the Bombay HC directing the state government to expedite the anti-corruption bureau inquiry against him in the irrigation scam.
While taking strong exception to the failure in submitting an inquiry status report against Pawar and former NCP MLC Sandeep Bajoriya, the HC sternly directed the government to file a report within six weeks.
The court was furious after the government failed to comply with last week’s order, when it had asked for a progress report. Pawar and Bajoriya have been accused of corruption and irregularities in irrigation projects at Jigaon in Buldhana, Lower Pedhi in Amravati, Raigad barrage near Chandur Railway, and Waghadi in Yavatmal.
Chief minister Devedndra Fadnavis had asked the ACB a few months ago to probe the multi-crore irrigation scam and Pawar’s alleged role in it.
A nexus of contractors, officials and politicians allegedly milked thousands of crore meant for irrigation projects. While the ACB had filed two FIRs and one charge sheet in the scam, no policontracts tician has been indicted so far.
A division bench comprising justice Bhushan Dharmadhikari and justice Arun Upadhye in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay HC directed the investigation officer to specifically conduct a probe into allegations against Bajoriya’s firm that claim it bagged for Jigaon and other projects on the basis of bogus documents. It directed the officer to submit findings along with an audit report before next hearing.
The directives came while hearing a PIL alleging that contracts in all these projects were awarded to Bajoriya Construction Company headed by ex-Yavatmal MLC, at the behest of Pawar, who headed the irrigation department at the time.
Pawar had also filed an application for deletion of his name from the case, contending he had no role to play and there were no specific allegations against him. However, the court had refused to grant immediate relief to him.