Deshmukh caught in the throes of a Rs 50-cr land scam

Addressing a press conference here, state BJP spokesman Atul Bhatkhalkar alleged that corruption of Rs 50 crore had taken place in this transaction.

He threatened to file a petition in the High Court if the Chief Minister failed to stay his order issued on August 7 last changing the reservation of plots.

As many as 24 plots located at Balewadi area of Pune were removed from agricultural zone to residential zone. Another two plots were transfeRred from green zone and industrial zone to residential zone. The total area amounts to over 500 acres and comes under the regional plan for the 38 villages included in the Pune Municipal Area recently. The reservations were changed by overruling the objections raised by Ratnakar Gaikwad, Commissioner of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), who had informed the government that the corporation was finalising the Development Plan for the area. The whole exercise was undertaken for the benefit of the builders’ lobby in Pune and to oblige a national Congress leader from Pune, Bhatkhalkar alleged.

Besides, another influential leader from Pune – who dictates terms to the Chief Minister – was also keen on the decision, he added.

In fact, in a recent decision the state cabinet decided to amend the Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning Act, 1966, to empower the state government to change the reservations in the development plan of the cities. The cabinet’s decision was aimed at the plots in Pune, Bhatkhalkar said.

The move was opposed by Gaikwad in a letter written to the Urban Development Department (UDD) on January 24, 2000. However, the objections raised by the civic body chief were overruled by the UDD who took the decision on August 7, 2000, Bhatkhalkar alleged. Chief Minister Deshmukh holds charge of the UDD.

Bhatkhalkar said he would soon announce the details of the plots and also the names of the leaders involved in the episode.

If any substance is found in the allegations, Deshmukh will be the second chief minister of the state, to find himself at the receiving end over a land scam in Pune. A couple of years ago, the Bombay High Court had passed strictures against former chief minister Manohar Joshi for lifting the reservation of plots in Pune to oblige his son-in-law, a boulder. A special leave petition filed by Joshi is pending before the Supreme Court.