NCP minister arrested in housing scam

The case relates to alleged irregularities in a low-cost housing scheme when Deokar was the chief of the Jalgaon municipal council in 1997. During his tenure,the civic body introduced an affordable housing scheme to construct 11,000 low-cost houses in Jalgaon.

The project was allegedly never completed and yet payments were made to the contractor and a company affiliated to local Shiv Sena politician,Suresh Jain. Jain,a former housing minister and sitting MLA,has already been arrested in the case.

Police said a tender was floated by the Jalgaon Municipal Council in 1997 and it promised to provide nine plots for the project. Over a period of time,it was found that the tender conditions were altered to ensure that Khandesh Builders,an alleged front company for Jain,secured the contract.

Of the promised nine plots,five did not belong to the council and the remaining were reserved for school,public garden or hospitals. Jain,along with 13 others,is still behind bars. While the case was registered in 2006,investigations began only last year.

NCP state president Madhukar Pichad said Deokar had already submitted his resignation to the party and his fate would be decided based on the action taken by police and court. “We have already received his resignation. We will take a decision about accepting his resignation based on the action police and judiciary takes,” said Pichad.

The police has so far arrested 50 people in the case and some of those wanted are allegedly absconding. Additional Superintendent of Police Ishu Sindhu,who has been investigating the case,had summoned Deokar and 45 others on Saturday.

Only 25 apparently turned up and were arrested. Deokar and 20 others were produced on Monday before a local court. “We sought Deokar’s custody for two days. As there is no direct evidence against him,we need his physical custody to ascertain his role. However,the court rejected our plea and he was sent to judicial custody and later bailed out,” said an officer.

The police,which is yet to file a chargesheet,claims to be ready with its case. “As all the evidence is documented,we had to collate and put the bank papers together. We will soon be filing a chargesheet in the case,” confirmed a police source.

Meanwhile,the BJP gunned for the minister’s head with state president Sudhir Mungantiwar demanding Deokar’s sacking from the state Cabinet. “He has been arrested by the police for a housing scam. He should quit from the Cabinet,” said Mungantiwar.