Bombay HC notice to 3 babus on perjury plea

The state government which is already facing troubled time over scams and unfavourable CAG report, has more to worry about after the Bombay high court issued notices to three bureaucrats seeking their reply on a petition seeking initiation of perjury proceedings against them.

Justice AV Nirgude, of the Aurangabad bench of the high court, issued notice on April 11 to Principal Secretary (Home, Security and Appeals) Medha Gadgil,  Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) Thomas Benjamin and Jalgaon Collector DS Rajurkar.

The court has asked them to file replies by June 12 on a petition filed by Crescent Entertainment and Tourism, a firm that has applied for NOC for construction of Multiplex at Jalgaon, alleging that the bureaucrats had provided wrong information under oath before the high court.

In November 2011, Crescent had approached the high court after their application for construction of multiplex on ground that the company should change its land’s zoning from industrial to residential.

The HC, on November 14, 2011, quashed the government’s decision and asked to reconsider the same. The court noted that the municipal corporation had granted permission for multiplex. As no decision was taken, the high court in December 2011, set two months’ deadline for the home department to decide on Crescent’s application.