MUMBAI, MARCH 16: Firebrand Congress member R R Patil today targeted Law and Judiciary and Industries Minister Leeladhar Dake and top bureaucrats of State-run enterprises.Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to Governor P C Alexander's address, Patil alleged that, by and large, allegations of corruption and irregularities were made against Cabinet members; but as per official records, it will be proved that IAS officials were not lagging far behind.While his remarks against Dake were expunged from the proceedings on the ground that he had not given notice to him as required under the Legislative Assembly rules, Patil demanded a probe into the style of functioning of two former managing directors, Prem Kumar and Yeshwant Bhave, of the Maharashtra State Financial Corporation (MSFC).Patil disclosed that during Prem Kumar's tenure, the MSFC disbursed loans to the extent of Rs 95 crore to non-existing firms. Even the MSFC chairman, M S Wadhawani, has confirmed to him that out Rs 900 croredisbursed by MSFC, Rs 120 crore was doubtful. At the moment, Prem Kumar is on deputation to the Atomic Energy Commission.Launching a frontal attack on Bhave, who is currently the Industries Secretary, Patil disclosed that when Bhave was at the helm of affairs in MSFC, he used to take lunch at the Taj and dinner at the Oberoi. ``I feel that at least once in a while, he should take food at home,'' Patil said.To prove his point, Patil displayed Bhave's credit card bills paid by MSFC to leading hotels, not only in Mumbai, but in different parts of the country. ``From the bills, it is clear that even the bills of liquor were paid by the State-run corporation,'' Patil added.Much to the surprise of Opposition legislators as well as the Treasury benches, Patil did not make any charge against the Chief Minister, saying that since he is new, he would not make any observations against him. ``I will ask both Rane and Munde to display a portrait of Manohar Joshi in their respective chambers so that they willrefrain from indulging in illegal acts, otherwise they will face the same situation,'' Patil remarked.Patil briefly referred to the Girish Vyas case, the deteriorating law and order situation, suicides committed by the farmers and failure of the alliance Government to secure the extradition of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.Leader of Opposition, Madhukar Pichad, hoped that following the landmark verdict against former Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, Governor P C Alexander should initiate a probe against Joshi, the Minister of State for Urban Development Ravindra Mane and the then Municipal Commissioner Ramanath Zha.``Under any circumstances, we will not allow Joshi to make a statement on the floor of the House in connection with the litigation. In that case, it will be gross misuse of the legislature for political purpose,'' Pichad added.Shiv Sena members Bhaskar Jadhav, Bala Nandgaonkar and BJP's Kirit Somaiyya referred to the developmental schemes undertaken by the alliance Government.
