Mumbai: On the last day of the monsoon session of the State legislature, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced inquiries into the allegations of corruption against Housing Minister Prakash Mehta and Industries Minister Subhash Desai.
Mr Fadnavis also announced the formation of a joint Special Investigation Team (SIT), consisting of a senior IAS officer and Economic Offence Wing (EOW) officers, to probe allegations against IAS officer Radheshyam Mopalwar as exposed by The Hindu last week.
“Allegations levelled against Mr. Mehta will be probed by the Lokayukta, who is a retired High Court judge. At the same time, an independent inquiry will be held in the case of denotification of MIDC land at Igatpuri in Nashik district,” Mr. Fadnavis said.
He said the government is committed to the promise of a transparent administration, and the truth will come out through the probe.
‘Ministers should quit’
Opposition parties demanded the removal of both ministers. “No minister has the moral right to remain in the Cabinet once an inquiry is ordered against them. Either the CM should ask them to quit, or they should resign voluntarily,” said Leader of the Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jayant Patil said former Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse had to resign from his post after facing similar allegations and when an inquiry was announced against him.
“Similar criteria should be applied to these ministers as well,” he said.
Mr. Fadnavis said the Lokayukta would be given absolute power to investigate the ministers, and no compromise will be made in the probe.
“We will make a formal request to the Lokayukta, and a notification for the same will also be issued. An independent inquiry against Mr. Desai will be carried out by a competent officer,” he said.
