RTI: ₹60 lakh due from exministers for overstaying in homes waived off

MUMBAI: The Bjp-led state government has waived off around ₹60 lakh due from two of the party’s senior leaders, Eknath Khadse and Vijaykumar Gavit, for overstaying in their official residences after being removed as ministers. This was revealed in a reply to a query filed under the RTI Act by activist Anil Galgali.

The decision was approved by CM Devendra Fadnavis as a “special case” as both leaders had requested the CM to waive off the charges, which also include a penalty amount.

According to documents released by PWD in the RTI reply, Gavit was charged ₹43.84 lakh for overstaying at the accommodation for more than two years, between April 4, 2014 and July 29, 2016.

In Khadse’s case, he was allotted the 8,857-sq-ft Ramtek bungalow at Malabar Hill. As per PWD rules, he had to vacate the bungalow within 15 days after quitting as revenue minister on June 4, 2016. However, Khadse stayed there for five more months and so was charged ₹15.49 lakh for overstaying.

While Gavit did not respond to calls and text message from HT, Khadse said he was charged wrongly owing to some departmental miscommunication. “We had informed General Administration Department (GAD), the day I vacated the bungalow as the accommodation was allotted by them. But PWD argued they should have been informed instead of GAD as they look after the day-today maintenance. I had requested the CM to look in to it and he finally waived off wrongly charged amount,” said Khadse.