Bhujbal orders a cracker of a probe on Diwali day

Significantly, the official announcement of the probe was made by Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar and subsequently confirmed by Bhujbal.

“Since there were specific complaints that some persons in Pune were collecting huge amounts with the assurance that suitable changes will be made in the development plan and reservations will also be changed in the newly merged 38 villages in the Pune city, I have asked the CID to inquire into the complaints,” Bhujbal told The Indian Express.

The Pune regional development plan controversy broke in September this year when allegations were made that several areas marked as "no-development zones" in the plan were converted into "residential zones" at the behest of the chief minister. Bhujbal’s order assumes political import since the change of reservation of plots was approved by Vilasrao Deshmukh himself in his capacity as the Urban Development Minister. Secondly, a case regarding reservation of zones is now pending before the Bombay High Court.

Deshmukh’s cabinet colleagues, particularly those belonging to the Congress were shocked by Bhujbal’s decision. “It was unfortunate that Bhujbal has ordered a CID probe. From the order, it appears that along with complaints of corruption, the CID will also scrutinise the order passed by the Chief Minister. We feel that Bhujbal has exceeded his brief,” a senior Congress Minister said.

Apparently, Vilasrao Deshmukh was in the dark over Bhujbal’s directives to the CID as well as the Anti-Corruption Bureau. “I don’t think the Chief Minister was aware of such an order. In fact, during the cabinet meeting onWednesday, Bhujbal should have briefed the Chief Minister on the order,” the Minister added.

On September 14, BJP spokesman Atul Bhatkalkar had alleged that a multi-crore deal was involved in the change in reservation and zones while merging 38 villages within the limits of the Pune Municipal Corporation. The main allegations were that the change of reservations was illegal and bad in law, that there was a deal of Rs 50 crore involved in the transaction and that the Chief Minister was directly involved in the scam.

Deshmukh had not only refuted the allegations, but immediately filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against Bhatkhalkar for making false and baseless allegations against him. Simultaneously, the Congress-led Democratic Front government also granted permission to the Public Prosecutor to initiate criminal proceedings against the BJP leader.

BJP corporator from Pune Ujwal Keskar had also filed a public interest litigation against the Democratic Front government. He had alleged that the government had illegally approved the conversion of about 600 acres of land from the "no-development zone" into the "residential zone," thereby making available two crore square feet floor space index in 38 villages surrounding the limits of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The PMC too had objected to the land conversion, saying its micro planning of the area was underway. However, the government issued a notification on August 7 converting plots from +no development zone+ into residential zone.

The defamation case filed by the Chief Minister and Keskar’s petition are both pending before the high court.

Though Bhatkhalkar declined to comment on Bhujbal’s order, a senior BJP leader said it has vindicated the BJP’s stand. “We are not concerned with whether the CID conducts an inquiry against individuals or any builder from Pune, the fact remains that it will be an inquiry against the change of reservation,” the BJP leader added.