The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the police to submit a detailed status report on the progress of the enquiry on a PIL filed by social activist Anna Hazare alleging a ₹25,000-crore scam in sugar co-operative factories. The court also directed the investigating officer to be present in court for the next hearing on March 8.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing the criminal public interest litigation (PIL) demanding an inquiry by a special investigation team into roles of former agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit in the scam.
The PIL, filed on December 8, 2016, claimed that the scam pulled the State back by 50 years and put it under financial debt. The PIL seeks an inquiry by the CBI into corruption and misuse of government funds. On December 12, 2018, the court had directed Mr. Hazare to file a police complaint before approaching the court.
Advocte S.B. Talekar, appearing for Mr. Hazare, pointed out to the court that Mr. Hazare had written to the Chief Minister asking him for reasons why there was no progress in the investigation. The letter alleged that the police were not taking any action as senior officials were named in the complaint.
