Bombay High Court issues notices to Maharashtra chief secretary, Shiv Sena MP

The Bombay High Court Bench here has issued notices to Maharashtra Chief Secretary, Co-operation Secretary, Washim Shiv Sena MP Bhavna Gawli (Patil) and others on a public interest litigation (PIL).

A Division Bench of Justice PB Majumdar and Justice Ashok Bhangale issued the notices yesterday while hearing the PIL filed by Subhash Uttamrao Dewde, a resident of Washim district who has alleged irregularities in administration of Shree Balaji Particle Board, owned by Gawli.

Principal Secretaries of Finance and Planning Departments, National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC) and Ashok Gandule, PA to Gawli are the other respondents in the case. They were asked to file replies by February 14.

The PIL has demanded probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of police officers into a "fraudulent" deal involving the company. Dewde also sought setting up of a judicial panel headed by a retired High Court Judge to probe the matter.

The petitioner has alleged that Gawli acquired Shree Balaji, which has State Government's investment worth Rs42 crore, from the Board of Liquidators at a throwaway price of Rs7 crore in the name of Bhavna Agrotech.

Her PA Gandule is said to be the "proprietor" of Bhavna Agrotech. The Sena Lok Sabha MP is a former Chairperson of the Board of Liquidators.