Govt verified plaints only, not given nod to probe

The Maharashtra government on Thursday informed the Bombay High Court that it has not given any permission to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to conduct an inquiry in the complaint pertaining to the alleged anomalies in the toll collection centre on the Mumbai-Pune express-way.

Government Pleader Abhinandan Vagyani, informed the division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Nitin Jamdar that the government has only verified the complaint made by activist Praveen Wategaonkar.

Vagyani, also submitted that the government has not given nod for the inquiry into this matter against the firm, that is operating and maintaining the Mumbai-Pune express-way.

The judges were hearing a bunch of petitions filed by Wategaonkar, highlighting several anomalies in the tendering process of the toll collection centrea on MumbaiPune expres-way. He had alleged that the firm that was awarded the contract of constructing and maintaining the said road, was favoured by the government. He has claimted that the government has suffered loss to the tune of crores of money due to this ‘favouritism.’ He had accordingly sought an enquiry by the ACB into this matter.

During the course of hearing, the firm informed the judges that Wategoankar has willfully supressed several facts of this case and has filed numerous petitions in the very case in the HC.