Make CBI respondent in parking lots PIL: plea

Activist Pravin Wategaonkar,who had filed a PIL alleging corruption in allotment of public parking lots in the city,Thursday sought Bombay High Court’s permission to add the CBI as a respondent in his litigation.

“An MLA said there are 11 public parking proposals that are pending for over four months as builders have refused to pay for clearing them. A person reportedly close to the Chief Minister has been negotiating with builders and the ruling party has been charging Rs 2,500 per sq feet for clearing these proposals,” Wategaonkar’s petition alleges.

He sought the court’s permission to add the CBI as a respondent so that he can seek an inquiry under Prevention of Corruption Act. The court,however,asked Wategaonkar to submit documents to support the allegations in four weeks. Rajan Kop,joint secretary,Urban Development Department (UDD) had,in an affidavit filed earlier this week,denied the allegations.

He said a committee headed by the municipal commissioner and including joint commissioner of police (Traffic),MMRDA commissioner has been set up to consider “suitability” of public parking lots.