HC gets govt to speed up probe, wants progress report in a week

NAGPUR: Forcing investigating agencies to speed up the probe into the Maharashtra irrigation scam allegations, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court on Thursday asked the Maharashtra anti-corruption bureau to submit all documents and a progress report into the ₹70,000crore scam within a week. This unexpected move may spell more trouble for former deputy chief minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, and former water resources minister Sunil Tatkare, whose alleged involvement in the scam are under the scanner .

Slamming the state government, a division bench of Justice Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Justice ZA Haq made it clear that subject to its satisfaction, it would decide the future course of action in the case, including the appointment of two former HC judges to monitor the special

investigation teams’ (SITS) probe. During a hearing earlier this month, the court had gave the government and petitioners’ counsels till July 12 to suggest names of two retired HC judges who will monitor the investigation.

The petitioners’ counsel, Shridhar Purohit, suggested the names of former chief justice of

the Calcutta high court JN Patel and former judge RC Chavan.

On Thursday, responding to a public interest litigation filed by NGO Jan Manch, the court made it clear it would appoint two retired judges to whom the SIT would report, either daily or every week, to ensure those involved are brought to justice.

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