Deshmukh connection in land scam, CAG indicts

A leaked report of Comptroller and Auditor Genereal of India(CAG), has reportedly indicted Science and Technology Minister and former chief minister of Maharashtra Vilas Rao Deshmukh had connection in a land scam. Although the report has not been tabled in the assembly but it has created trouble for the Congress whereas it has provided another burning issue for the opposition.

The report has alleged that Deshmukh and other state minister were indulged in dealing of govt. properties for their personal interests. According to the report, the 23,840 sq metre plot in suburban Borivali area of Mumbai city was allotted to a certain Manjara Charitable Trust by the state government on September 28, 2005, when Deshmukh was the chief minister, for opening a college.

Deshmukh was also rapped by the Supreme Court for giving 20 acres of land to Bollywood film producer Subhash Ghai in 2004 for his film institute thereby bypassing the rules.

Commenting on the issues, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi termed the govt. as a govt. of scams. He said the Congress led Central Government and the Maharashtra Government was scam tainted and the guilty should be severely punished.In such situations, whatever has happened in Maharashtra, and what all is happening now, should be probed very seriously, he added.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja said the issue had been raised in parliament earlier and investigative agencies should take the matter up very seriously.

Infact, there was a demand at one point of time that there should also be one joint parliamentary committee to go into the Adarsh Housing scam. But now the CAG report has indicted a former chief minister for allotting flats or lands in such a way, he added.

(With inputs from ANI)