The decision was announced by minister of state for social justice Dilip Kamble, when members of the lower House asked if any arrests will be made.
The state government on Wednesday declared that it will arrest, within a month, all the accused in the Lokshahir Anna Bhau Sathe Mahamandal scam case. The state plans to act against all those under whose names luxury cars were purchased from the money meant for betterment of lesser privileged, and those who actually used them.
The decision was announced by minister of state for social justice Dilip Kamble, when members of the lower House asked if any arrests will be made. The scam took place over a period of over three years (2011-2014) and was pegged at over Rs500 crore. Around 159 luxury cars, including BMW and Audi, were purchased from the money meant for uplift of the backward. "Nearly 60-70 MLAs were among the beneficiaries," informed Kamble, agreeing to the demand of having more officers probe the case.
NCP MLA Ramesh Kadam was arrested for his role in the case. Most people suspected to have benefited were NCP office bearers. The modus operandi was simple – four to five cheques in the name of people from backward category were collected for tempos, cars and other vehicles. These cheques were given to a company that purchased luxury cars, which were then used by NCP office bearers. Cash to the tune of Rs50 crore was withdrawn, while a loan of up to Rs190 crore was given for women welfare work, that went mostly to the NCP women's wing.
"Action against 74 officers has been taken, 16 have been suspended and another 13 were arrested," said Kamble. The issue was raised during the calling attention motion by MLA Anil Gote. Some others who spoke on the issue were Prakash Ambitkar, Imtiaz Jaleel, Eknath Shinde, Satej Patil and Yogesh Sagar.
BJP tried to embarrass the NCP as much as it could, by demanding names of accused. Eknath Shinde, who was among the only known face of NCP in the House, objected to Kamble's response and said the government should give responsible answers and not merely harp on allegations of CID, which is probing the case.
Satel Patil, also from NCP, said those who were guilty should be hanged but there was no point taking names in the House based on allegations. The demand for arrest of those under whose name the cars were purchased and those used them was raised by Yogesh Sagar, to to which Kamble agreed readily.
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