CAG indicts Vilasrao Deshmukh in land scam

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A leaked report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has reportedly indicted Science and Technology Minister and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in connection with a land scam.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja said the issue had been raised in parliament earlier and investigative agencies should take the matter up very seriously.

“Definitely, the issue was raised in parliament also. Infact, there was a demand at one point of time that there should also be one joint parliamentary committee to go into the Adarsh Housing scam. But now the CAG report has indicted a former chief minister for allotting flats or lands in such a way,” said Raja.

“This is all a serious matter. The CBI and the investigative agencies must take serious note of all these reports and pursue the matter effectively,” he added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Congress led Central Government and the Maharashtra Government was scam tainted and the guilty should be severely punished.

“This government is becoming a government of scams. In such situations, I feel that whatever has happened in Maharashtra, and what all is happening now, should be probed very seriously. Also, strict action should be taken against who ever is found guilty, no matter how senior, or powerful he or she is,” said Naqvi.

The report has alleged wrongdoings by Deshmukh and other state ministers while dealing with government properties to maintain personal interest.

According to the report, the 23,840 sq metre plot in suburban Borivali area of Mumbai city was allotted to a certain Manjara Charitable Trust by the state government on September 28, 2005, when Deshmukh was the chief minister, for opening a college.

Deshmukh was also rapped by the Supreme Court for giving 20 acres of land to Bollywood film producer Subhash Ghai in 2004 for his film institute thereby bypassing the rules.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has said he will take appropriate action once the reporte is tabled in the state assembly.