Mumbai: Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao has ordered an investigation by the Lokayukta into the allegations of corruption and nepotism against Housing Minister Prakash Mehta.
In an order issued on Wednesday, the Lokayukta was directed to probe all permissions granted by Mr. Mehta, especially the ones given to the slum rehabilitation scheme (SRA) at the MP Mill compound.
The Governor said that his orders were based not on suo moto considerations, but on a request by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had recently met him. It is alleged that the minister had passed undue favours to the developer of the SRA scheme at Tardeo.
Congress leader and former CM Prithviraj Chavan had alleged that Mr. Mehta had unduly approved one lakh square feet of construction rights to the developer, resulting an illicit gain of ₹500 crore to ₹800 crore.
Mr. Mehta denied the allegations and said that some of his party members are trying malign him for their vested interest.
The Opposition said while the CM had ordered a probe by the Lokayukta, he had not sacked the minister. “We demand a judicial probe by a judge of the High Court under the Commission of Enquiry Act, and that the minister be immediately sacked. We also demanded that the 137 files cleared by the CEO of the SRA two weeks prior to his retirement be reviewed and all projects be investigated,” said Mr. Chavan in New Delhi.
“In a letter to the Governor, the CM said that he had made a statement before both the Houses that in regard to the allegations against Mr. Mehta pertaining to grant of permission in the SRA scheme at the MP Mill Compound, an inquiry will be entrusted to the Lokayukta. The Governor has ordered an investigation under sub-section (3) of Section 17 of the Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta Act, 1971,” said Umesh Kashikar, spokesperson for the Governor office.
