Chitale panel asked to allow depositions in irrigation scam

A one-page letter sent by Advocate General Darius Khambata Friday to Chief Secretary Jayantkumar Bhantia and leader of the Opposition in state Council Vinod Tawde states,“Madhav Chitale committee has been asked to allow Opposition leaders and people to come forward and submit their documents and give hearing on matters related to irrigation projects.”

The letter also mentions he has taken note of the Opposition leader’s protest and the Bombay High Court’s directives to government on the matter.

Tawde,had written a letter to both Chitale and Advocate General,expressing his displeasure for not being allowed to make submissions before the four-member fact-finding committee.

In reply a few months ago,Chitale had argued that the terms and conditions set for the committee did not allow individual depositions on irrigation projects and so he could not entertain opposition leaders or individuals on the issue.

Subsequently,state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis had written to state Governor K Sankaranarayan,seeking his intervention in the matter. “The committee needs to be empowered to enable it to conduct the investigations under the Inquiry of Commission Act. The criminal action against those guilty of financial irregularities should be identified and punished,” Fadnavis said,adding that Chitale committee confined itself to just fact-finding,which was not serving the real purpose.

The committee,which was constituted in January this year,has been given extension till December 2013.

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