AAP spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon alleged that being president Khotkar ensured that most of the galas (shops) were given to his family members of close relatives or to his friends and run the APMC like his private empire.
The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday alleged that newly elected minister Arjun Khotkar from Jalna has siphoned off money belonging to Jalna Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), which he has headed for nine years.
AAP spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon alleged that being president Khotkar ensured that most of the galas (shops) were given to his family members of close relatives or to his friends and run the APMC like his private empire. "Sena goes to Marathwada saying that they will help farmers while their minister loots them," said Sharma, who was flanked by party members Kailash Fullari and Suresh Dewawale from Jalna and Satish Jain from Mumbai.
Menon alleged that officials are listing that galas given are for non-agriculture use and that even a multiplex was coming up. "We want ACB to conduct an inquiry, the chief minister to initiate it and we will also be writing to the chief justice. We want protection for whistle blowers because Khotkar is dreaded in the area. She played videos where in shops (galas) leased out were sold at high prices from which a cut was given to Khotkar. "There are adverse remarks by auditors and Khotkar has siphoned off Rs500 crore. Sena-BJP is doing the same thing that NCP-Congress did. Each MLA made co-operatives and committees their private property. There is no opposition and AAP and common citizens will have to fight this out," said Menon.
"Bal Thackeray had instantly sacked his minister when corruption charges were leveled. We want to see what mettle Uddhav is made of. On one hand, they say that they are with farmers and on the other Sena loots them," said Menon. Khotkar's public relations person said that the minister will be taking a press conference on the issue on Thursday.
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 "Arjun Khotkar")
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