Ajit Pawar still under ACB lens in irrigation scam

MUMBAI: Even as his name did not figure in the first information report lodged by anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on August 25, 2015, after a cursory glance over the voluminous chargesheet filed in the Balganga irrigation project scam, it appears that controversial NCP leader Ajit Pawar is still under investigation.
In the chargesheet, the ACB has sought court permission to probe the case as per the provisions of Section 173 (8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure; nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude further investigation in respect of an offence after a report has been forwarded to the magistrate and if the officer in-charge obtains further evidence, oral or documentary, he shall forward it to the magistrate.
The ACB it is still probing three crucial issues. Firstly, the policy decision taken by Pawar for granting approval to the Balganga project—on July 27, the ACB wrote a letter to the principal secretary of water resources department on the manner in which the proposal was approved.
Secondly, as per the decision taken on February 15, 2010, once the Balganga project was approved by the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA), Cidco should grant administrative approval for it. But it was found that even before MWRRA’s approval, Cidco extended financial assistance and even before approving the MoU between Cidco and Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation, work was started. Lastly, Pioneer Foundation Engineers was granted preliminary survey work on March 13, 2008, for Rs 52.28 lakh, however, it failed to submit the report within the stipulated period.
In the Balganga project, it was found that there was unprecedented cost escalation—from Rs 353 crore to Rs 1,220 crore—in a brief span of six months. Also, complaints were pouring in against the allotment of contract to FA Constructions, but no cognizance was taken. After chief minister Devendra Fadnavis took charge in October 2014, he assured an open inquiry against NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal. Later the ACB was granted permission to conduct an open inquiry against them.
The ACB, on August 25, 2015, filed a criminal case against the partners of FA Constructions and a few high-ranking engineers under the Prevention of Corruption Act for causing a loss of Rs 92 crore to the state exchequer. Subsequently, the ACB recorded the statements of Pawar and Tatkare, but did not mention their names in the FIR. A senior ACB official said as investigations are still on, it would be “wrong to say that a clean chit has been given to them”.