'No sanction had been given for the open inquiry against Bhujbal'

The state government has clarified that no sanction had been given for the open inquiry against PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal in the alleged scam in the construction of the Maharashtra Sadan and the file moved by the home department was in the process.

Chief secretary Jayant Banthia told DNA on Thursday that the government has not given sanction for the open probe in the alleged corruption in the construction of the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi.

"The file is in the process. Though I cannot divulge the information about the status, the sanction for the open inquiry has not been given yet," Banthia said.

According to the officials in General Administration Department (GAD), the file was pending in the office of the chief secretary after the two departments concerned put their respective remarks. Additional chief secretary (home) initiated the procedure after the Anti-Corruption Bureau demanded the sanction.

PWD has stated that the project was cleared by a sub-committee headed by two Chief Ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh  and  Ashok Chavan and the department head – Chhagan Bhujbal - was not alone responsible for the decision. GAD, too, believably stated the procedure followed by the department. The remarks also throw light on the procedure followed while allotting the contract.

The sources also claimed that once the chief secretary clears the file, it would go to the chief minister for the final nod. The officer said since the minister is one of the senior most politicians in the cabinet, it even may be referred to the Governor of Maharashtra for his remarks. 

Though the time frame for the movement of the file was not fixed, the government was not in the mood to delay it unnecessarily.

“In the current scenario delaying the procedure is giving opportunity to raise questions and the entire system would be held accountable in that case. The probe against the minister would hold only one person responsible,” he added.

There was confusion created for last couple of days after the home minister RR Patil and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan made contradictory statements. Patil had said on Tuesday that no sanction for the probe was given, whiles Chavan stated that it was given by the home department.