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Anti Corruption Bureau says no DA case against ex-minister Vijaykumar Gavit

A division bench of justices NH Patil and VL Achliya has kept the PIL hearing on June 19.

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Former medical education minister Vijaykumar Gavit (centre)
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In a relief for former medical education minister Vijaykumar Gavit and his relatives, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has informed the Bombay high court that no case has been made out against them for disproportionate assets.

The HC was informed on Wednesday that the ACB report was submitted to the state government, which had accepted the findings.The ACB had initiated an open inquiry against Gavit and his family, following HC directions in a public interest litigation (PIL) plea filed by Nashik-based activist Vishnu Musale. The investigating agency itself had sought permission from HC to initiate an open inquiry after "a discreet inquiry" into the assets of Gavit and his family had revealed some evidence.

A division bench of justices NH Patil and VL Achliya has kept the PIL hearing on June 19.

Gavit's counsel, Mahesh Jethmalani, sought that the PIL should be dismissed in view of the ACB report, which was accepted by the government.

However, Uday Warunjikar, counsel for the petitioner, contended that since the PIL was admitted last year, he should be given a fair chance to argue. "I should be allowed to go through the report and make my submissions on it," argued Warunjikar.

The HC has asked the petitioner to approach the government to get a copy of the report. The PIL has made Gavit, his wife, Kumudini (president of zilla parishad of Nandurbar) and his brother Sharad Gavit (cabinet minister and MLA from Navapur) as respondents.

According to the PIL, Gavit, who was working as a lecturer with a college in Aurangabad till 1994, showed his last monthly salary as Rs9,715. His brother Sharad used to work as a Class IV employee in Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. His last drawn salary in 1994 was Rs1,290.

He then fought the elections and became Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1994, assuming charge of tribal development department, and later became minister. Sharad, meanwhile, was transferred to the Mantralaya as special officer. He, too, contested elections in 2009 and was elected as MLA from Navapur constituency.

But as per the information acquired by the petitioner under the Right To Information Act, Gavit showed his personal assets as Rs1.3 crore and his total family assets (in the name of wife Kumudini and daughters Hina and Supriya) was shown as Rs1.5 crore.

Moreover, the nomination papers filed by Gavit in 2009 showed his personal assets to be worth Rs2.23 crore whereas his family wealth was shown as Rs4.78 crore.

The rise in his wealth while he was minister shows the additional wealth has been generated by "using illegal means, taking undue advantage of his position as MLA and as minister", the PIL states.

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