Did Maharashtra Shiv Sena minister violate rules to help builder? Ex-bureaucrat to probe

The Maharashtra government today appointed former additional chief secretary (Home) KP Bakshi to head a one-man committee to probe allegations of illegal de-notification of plot of land belonging to Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Industries Minister Subhash Desai stands accused of de-notifing the plots to benefit one certain Swastik Builders who allegedly is closely related with Desai's party Shiv Sena.

The plots in question are situated at Gondedumala and Wadiware in Igatpuri taluka of Nashik district. A Government Resolution (GR) issued in this connection states that the probe has been constituted under Bakshi. According to the terms of reference for the committee, the probe will investigate if norms were followed while denotifying the land, whether any such similar de-notification of MIDC land had taken place in last 15 years and whether norms for such de-notification were followed as per MIDC Act. The probe will also find whether there was a conflict of interest in the de-notification decision and any other anomalies were found in the said decision.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced probe in this matter in the monsoon session of the state legislature after Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde had raised it in the House. Munde said an independent inquiry was not possible until and unless Desai is sacked from the ministry. He argued that Desai is in a position to influence the inquiry and wanted to know how will the minister's department officials give proofs against him until he is removed from his post.

Bakshi retired in November 2016 and currently heads the State Water Regulatory Authority (SWRA).

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