Bombay High Court seeks update on Eknath Khadse land deal probe

The Bombay high court (HC) on Monday asked the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) police and the State Revenue Department to file the status of the land and the probe into allegations against former Maharashtra revenue minister Eknath Khadse in the MIDC land purchase deal.

Social activist-cum builder Mr Hemant Gavande, who has filed a criminal writ petition in the HC has called the inquiry committee set up to probe Khadse’s land deal in Bhosari area of Pune as “toothless”. The petitioner alleged that Khadse as a sitting minister of Revenue Department had purchased land belonging to MIDC.

The petitioner has sought direction to the CBI, Central Vigilance Commission and Income Tax department to take cognisance of the complaint filed by him against Khadse in Pune on May 30, 2016.

According to Mr Gavande’s complaint, Khadse misused his official position as minister to purchase the land “owned and acquired” by MIDC. He alleged that Khadse purchased the 3-acre land at a throwaway price of Rs 3.75 crore from the original owner in the name of his wife Mandakini and son-in-law Girish Chaudhary, while the market value of the land was Rs 31 crore.

While hearing the petition, the division bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil on Monday observed that any minister or his relatives acting in violation of law is not suitable to them.