MHADA LAND SCAM: State seeks probe against 5 babus in ‘land grab’ case

Mumbai: Trouble is brewing for five IAS officials as the state home department has forwarded a file to chief secretary Jayant Kumar Banthia seeking sanction for an open inquiry against them in an alleged Mhada land grab case.

The names of Shyamsunder Shinde, Subhash Sonavane (retired), Bipinkumar Shrimali, H K Jawale and Satish Bhide (he has taken voluntary retirement) had cropped up in Mhada’s initial inquiry. The state action against the bureaucrats comes after a Bombay high court order to dispose of by mid-April the backlog of graft cases in which government sanction has been sought for prosecution.

“After Banthia clears the file, it will be sent to home minister R R Patil for approval, and then to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. After all sanctions are got, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) will begin its probe,” said asenior Mantralaya official.

The five IAS officers and more than six Mhada officials have been accused of “wrongdoing” in a case pertaining to a plot in the suburbs. “Not only IAS officers, but the role of junior state officials, too, will come under scanner,” the official added.

While Shrimali was not available for comment, Sonavane refused to talk to the media. Shinde reiterated that there was no case of land grab. “It would not be appropriate to discuss the issue with the media as the matter is sub-judice,” he said. Bhide said the decision was taken by the Mhada authorities and refused further comment. It has been learnt that the housing board also claims that there was no such irregularity.

TOI first reported the “land scam” in 2012, when then Mhada chief had requested the state to initiate action against the five IAS officers who had handled the issue earlier. The housing board asked the state to order an inquiry after the city civil court said there was “fraud” as the same plot had been divided, causing Mhada to lose land.

Following the court’s remarks, Mhada CEO Satish Govai conducted an internal inquiry, which found that the IAS officers and their juniors had committed grave violations. Later, the ACB started a discreet inquiry.

Director general of police (ACB) Raj Khilnani said they have not received any intimation about the file.
Courtesy:
Sanjeev Shivadekar TNN
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