The Maharashtra government has paid a fine of Rs. 10 lakh set by the Supreme Court in the case of the former Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, who prevented a police case being registered against a moneylender.
On December 14, 2010, the court came down heavily on Mr. Deshmukh, now Union Rural Development Minister, and set a deadline of six weeks to pay the fine. The State government, anxious to avoid any contempt of court, paid up before the deadline, official sources said.
The government’s action comes amid public pressure on Mr. Deshmukh and the Congress party to make the payment, instead of putting the burden on the taxpayer.
