State housing minister Ravindra Waikar gets clean-chit in SRA case

State housing minister Ravindra Waikar has been given a clean-chit regarding charges of misuse of power to "illegally execute six Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects. SRA has submitted its final report in the matter.

Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam had alleged that the Shiv Sena minister had partnered with Aishwarya Avant Builders to execute the projects concerned. dna has a copy of the report. "We checked all allegations and did not find any record of Waikar's involvement in SRA projects. He did not even help to put these projects on a fast-track. Besides, redevelopment near the Jogeshwari cave was also undertaken after getting permission. A part of this cave is demarcated as residential zone and some area is the restricted zone. The submitted plan is as per the prescribed provisions," stated the report.

Waikar was a business partner to Harmeet of Aishwarya Light Construction Company in 2006. He withdrew his partnership in 2011. He has also filed a defamation case against the Mumbai Congress president.