The order is based on the Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) clean chit, which, in its "oral submission", told the watchdog that the transcripts of 12 telephonic conversations between complainant Ramesh Jadhav and accused Gajanan Patil, Khade's aide, did not indicate that the minister or any of his employees were involved in the alleged demand made by Gajanan Patil.
State revenue minister Eknath Khadse, who is facing a series of charges, received some respite on Friday, after Maharashtra Lokayukta closed the case file pertaining to a bribe allegation against him due to lack of evidence. The closure order, accessed by dna, has not only cleared Khadse's name but also given a clean chit to the minister's official staff.
The order is based on the Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) clean chit, which, in its "oral submission", told the watchdog that the transcripts of 12 telephonic conversations between complainant Ramesh Jadhav and accused Gajanan Patil, Khade's aide, did not indicate that the minister or any of his employees were involved in the alleged demand made by Gajanan Patil.
Mumbai-based entrepreneur Jadhav (70) had approached the corruption watchdog on April 22, after the ACB didn't take cognisance of his plaint for more than eight months. Jadhav had claimed that Patil sought Rs30 crore bribe on Khadse's behalf to clear his file pertaining to land allotment for his educational trust in Thane. The transfer of land has been stuck in red tape for years.
Jadhav had also alleged that Patil asked him to come to the minister's official residence Ramtek, and then at MLA hostel, to hand over the money. After being pulled up by the Lokayukta, an FIR was registered and Patil was arrested on May 13 outside the Mantralaya. He is in the judicial custody at present.
"Though a written report was not submitted, the oral ACB report said that at least 12 recordings of the conversations between Jadhav and Patil were considered. The transcripts don't indicate that either revenue minister Khadse or any of his employees were involved in the alleged demand made by Patil," read the order passed by justice (retd) ML Tahaliyani.
Besides, DSP KP Thorat and inspector Sandeep Vedpathak, who represented the ACB, assured the Lokayukta that they won't hesitate in taking action against any public servant, "whoever he/she be", in case the evidence was available during the course of investigation. "In view of the above statements, the complaint needs to be closed and is accordingly closed," read the Lokayukta order.
The Lokayukta has also noted in its order that the complainant has many other grievances against the government, including "lack-lustre" attitude towards his request for allotment of land for educational and social purposes.
He has been advised to file a separate plaint regarding the neglect of his demand by a particular public servant, so that the Lokayukta might deal with it in accordance of the law. The Lokayukta also advised Jadhav to not mix multiple issues together.
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 "Eknath Khadse")
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