Twitter
Advertisement

FIR against Patliputra society a possibility, says Prithviraj Chavan

Chavan assured opposition members in the assembly that he would see if an FIR could be lodged against office bearers of the society.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Admitting irregularities in the Patliputra Housing Society, promoted by top IAS and IPS officers in Mumbai, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday assured opposition members in the assembly that he would see if an FIR could be lodged against office bearers of the society.

Chavan was forced into a corner after the opposition as well as Congress members came down heavily on the CM, who holds the portfolio of housing, for the illegal construction at Patliputra building in Andheri (West), which houses retired and senior bureaucrats of the state government.

Some assembly members, particularly Congress MLA from Bandra West Baba Siddiqui targeted BMC municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar, considered by many a favourite of the CM for his honesty and no-nonsense approach.

On the ground floor of Patliputra building, a departmental store had come up, which is in violations of the law. BJP member from Nagpur Devendra Phadnavis had pointed out on Tuesday, when the matter was first raised in the assembly, that as per the law, a case has to be registered against the society office-bearers and the store owner. Opposition members claimed that the government was deliberately shielding the bureaucrats and demanded action. Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil, not satisfied with the government’s replies, had said the matter should be heard again two days later.

Chavan said the BMC had on finding the illegal construction told the police about the violations and asked it to act against the guilty parties. He further said the police have filed an FIR (first information report) against the store owner.

Phadnavis reiterated that as per the law, the case against the builder follows the case against the society, while Siddiqui said Subodh Kumar should resign since the BMC here was a guilty party. However the CM disputed the latter’s contention. “The BMC has not left anyone out in its report,” he said. “We need to examine the police FIR and find out why it has not acted against anyone else.”

Leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse, expressing his dissatisfaction with the CM’s reply, asked whether the police had come under pressure from any quarters to not file a case against the builders.

The CM said he would inquire into the matter. He also pointed out that law said “… the police may file a case…” against the society office-bearers. This led to another uproar, and Khadse asked, “Who is the CM trying to protect?” and pointed out that another building scam (Adarsh) had claimed his predecessor.

Khadse pointed out that the bureaucrats had shown their income to be around Rs12,000 or Rs18,000. “Only Praveen Pardeshi (principal secretary, forests) has declared his income to be Rs1 lakh per month. Are we to believe IAS officers earn so little,” he asked incredulously.

Finally, speaker Dilip Walse- Patil said he would take a decision on the matter on Friday and that this matter should be heard in the next session due in March.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement