Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil will file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court next week, demanding a CBI inquiry into the fire at Kamala Mills Compund.
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Mr. Vikhe-Patil said at a press conference on Friday, “The main reason for the fire is corruption within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Municipal Commissioner’s inability to function. Instead of asking [BMC Commissioner] Ajoy Mehta to probe the incident, the government should have filed cases under Section 302 or culpable homicide against him.”
‘Shielding leader’
The Congress leader accused Mr. Mehta of shielding a corrupt political leader who called him asking to stop action against illegal eateries. “[Mr. Mehta’s] call records should be checked to find out who is the political leader. The Chief Minister must question him for protecting this leader … Mr. Mehta’s actions are enough to suspend him immediately,” Mr. Vikhe-Patil said.
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A Congress delegation will present Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao with a report on the BMC’s alleged corruption, which has resulted in fires at Kamala Mills and at Sakinaka, and building collapses.
“We will demand that these incidents be investigated by the CBI,” said Mr. Vikhe-Patil.
Bhima-Koregaon
The Congress has also accused the Directory General of Police of negligence in handling the violence at Bhima-Koregaon on January 1.