Parallel probe into mill land scam

The standing committee also resolved to stop the ongoing construction of the proposed five star hotel by Brahma-Bajaj and seal all the related records, considering the elected representatives’ strong opinion that the construction was granted permission by the PMC flouting the development control (DC) rules.

But what apparently surprised even senior corporators was the decision to conduct what was being widely perceived as a parallel inquiry to the one already instituted by the general body, which is the supreme authority at the PMC.

In fact a corporator, who was at the forefront grilling the administration at yesterday’s general body meeting, described the standing committee’s decision as “ridiculous” considering the fact that all official records pertaining to the project were already sealed and taken into custody by the civic chief.

Justifying the decision, standing committee chairman Ramesh Bodke told media persons that the inquiry was being instituted in view of the financial implications of the controversial project on the PMC. Besides, what was appointed was a sub-committee.

Bodke said that the municipal commissioner would be on the inquiry sub-committee along with himself and his colleagues at the standing committee, Chandrakanta Sonkamble, Satish Misal, Nitin Jagtap, Deepak Gawde and Shivaji Kshirsagar.

The issued had rocked the PMC general body meeting yesterday as elected representatives virtually cornered the administration for granting permission to the building plans submitted by Brahma-Bajaj flouting the DC rules in what was termed as an act of “favouritism.”

The elected representatives had even alleged that civic norms pertaining to basement, parking space and construction height, were being violated by the promoters of the project.

The issue was raked up during the general body meeting by former standing committee chairman Aba Bagul, Rajni Tribhuwan, Rashid Sheikh, Deepak Mankar, Datta Sagare and Minakshi Makhamale, all known supporters of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi leader Suresh Kalmadi.