Munde ignored MSEB secy8217;s opposition to PPIL deal

Pointing out that the decision to award the contract was taken by majority, Gill had said under such circumstances, the contract should not be given to PPIL. The decision to award the contract was taken by voting. Four members 8212; Chairman Purushottam Garjalwar and non-official members 8212; Anil Rathod, Sudam Mandlik and Ashok Samak were in favour of the contract while all the three official members were against it. 8220;I feel that PPIL has no merits for the contract and therefore it should not be awarded to it,8221; Gill had stressed in his confidential letter.

Despite such strong remarks, the contract was awarded to PPIL. And when Congress legislator Digvijay Khanvilkar pointed out the irregularities in March last year, Munde, who also holds the energy portfolio, had justified the decision, saying, the company was competent to undertake the work.

However, when a writ petition filed by Khanvilkar came up for final hearing, the MSEB suo motu cancelled the entire deal without assigning any reasons.

The strong observations of the High Court in the case have come as a major setback for the alliance government, particularly Munde. However, Munde is not the first cabinet member to face a probe. A record number of nine cabinet members have faced one or other inquiry by a judicial authority.

Another cabinet member, Shantaram Gholap, is facing a probe by the Anti-Corruption Bureau into the multi-crore fraud in the Awami Cooperative Bank. Following directives of the court, an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against Gholap who is incharge of the Social Welfare Department.

A writ petition filed against Health Minister Daulatrao Aher is pending before the High Court. Congress legislator Shantaram Aher has filed a public interest litigation on the purchase of MRI equipment for the J J group of hospitals. Shantaram Aher contends that the government has paid a very high price for the equipment.

A high-level inquiry was also conducted against three cabinet members 8211; Horticulture Minister Shobhatai Phadnavis, who was then Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Finance Minister Mahadev Shivankar, who was then Irrigation Minister and Shiv Sena leader Shashikant Sutar, who was then Agriculture Minister. While inquiry against Shivankar and Sutar was conducted under the Commission of Inquiry Act headed by Justice Dudhat, Justice S C Pratap had conducted inquiry against Phadnavis. All the three were acquitted by the respective judges.

Chief Minister Narayan Rane, who was then Revenue Minister, was made a party in a case involving dereservation of land belonging to Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute, Nasik. However, subsequently, Rane was dropped from the list of respondents.

Last week, stringent strictures were passed against former Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and Minister of state for Urban Development Ravindra Mane in the land scandal involving Girish Vyas, son-in-law of Joshi. Following the decision, Mane has resigned from the cabinet on moral grounds.

The Congress is planning to cash in on the latest issue to rock the government. 8220;Certainly, it is a major set back for the alliance government and particularly the BJP since the CBI will be conducting an inquiry into the affairs of a board directly under Munde. The Congress will make full use of the court order during the on-going budget session as well as in the next assembly elections,8221; a senior BJP Minister said.

Congress leader Chhagan Bhujbal said, since prima facie there is irregularity in allotment of contract to PPIL, Munde should resign from the cabinet. 8220;The High Court has already expressed doubt on awarding the contract and has therefore ordered a CBI probe. Under such circumstances, it is highly improper on the part of Munde to continue in office,8221; Bhujbal said.