Maharashtra govt involved in defence land scam: BJP

Alleging that the Maharashtra government was involved in an alleged scam relating to sale of defence land at suburban Kandivli to private builders, BJP today demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter.

The scam involves Maharashtra government and the land, on which a tower has been constructed, belongs to the Defence Ministry, BJP national secretary Kirit Somaiya said at a press conference in Mumbai.

"Defence minister AK Antony had raised objection (over the construction) saying that the Maharashtra government had given the land to private builders without taking the ministry's permission. This is a scam of Rs150 crore," he claimed.

Somaiya said that in an RTI reply received by him from the Defence Ministry, it has been stated that the Kalptaru towers at Akurli in suburban Kandivili is situated on defence land.

"The 13.28 acres of defence land was sold by the Maharashtra government to Kalptaru group's Neo Pharma in 2007-2009, despite strong objection from the Army/Defence," he alleged.

"The defence ministry has ordered a Court of Inquiry in the scam," he added.

Despite this Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan claimed in the Legislative Assembly that the land belongs to the state government and they have not received any scam related case, Somaiya said.