No political motivation to prosecute Chavan, govt tells HC in Adarsh case

The BJP–led state government on Thursday justified the sanction to prosecute former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao in the Adarsh society scam. The government told Bombay High Court that the sanctioning granted by Governor was “legal” and was not motivated “politically.”

This stand of the government comes in response to the writ petition filed by Chavan before a Division Bench headed by Justice Ranjit More. He has challenged the decision of Governor Rao to prosecute him in the scam since the earlier Governor K Sankaranaryanan had refused to sanction Chavan’s prosecution.

In its affidavit, the government has said that Governor (Rao) has recorded his satisfaction over the “prima facie” “nexus” between the manner in which Chavan handled the files pertaining to the society and the benefits derived by his close relatives.

The government has also cited the finding of the twomember judicial commission that had found Chavan to be tainted with criminality.

Trashing Chavan’s claim that the prosecution was politically motivated and granted without application of mind, the affidavit said, “It is also denied that the proposal is a result of the escalations of the BJP government or a part of its strategy to destroy the petitioner. The Governor had sought advice from the Council of Ministers and after applying his mind to the aspects of the case.”

The government’s affidavit also cited the judgment of the HC, wherein another Bench headed by Justice More had directed to initiate criminal action against ministers, bureaucrats and other politicians involved in the case.

In February this year, Governor Rao had granted permission to CBI to prosecute Chavan under charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and other relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The matter will next be heard in June.