CM delaying probe in CIDCO land scam: Congress leader

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) president Sanjay Nirupam attacked CM Devendra Fadnavis over the controversial CIDCO land deal, claiming he was delaying a probe in the scam. Nirupam said, “It is completely within the powers of the CM to scrap this extremely illegal deal, which is in complete contravention of the rules. The land in question belongs to the Urban Development (UD) ministry which is under the CM and it was illegally allotted to a private builder, Paradise Builders, by the Revenue Ministry. Since the allotment is completely illegal, the CM can intervene within his rights to cancel the deal immediately without consulting anybody” This was in response to the CM's announcement in the assembly about consulting the state law and judiciary department over this controversial CIDCO land deal in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Earlier this month, Nirupam, along with AICC Communication Department Chief Randeep Surjewala and former CM Prithviraj Chavan exposed this scam producing proof that Paradise Builders, namely Manish Bhatija and Sanjay Bhalerao, had grabbed the 24-acre land in question worth Rs. 1,767 crore for Rs 3.5 crore. Nirupam had earlier demanded the CM scrap the entire deal and suspend the then managing director of CIDCO, the district collector (Raigad), the additional collector (Raigad) and the tahsildar (Panvel), for allotting the land in question to private builders at throwaway prices.

-FPJ Political Bureau