Cops seek speaker’s sanction to prosecute Kripa for corruption

Mumbai police write to Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil to invoke the Prevention of Corruption Act against the beleaguered Cong leader

The Mumbai Police has sought the Assembly speaker’s permission to prosecute senior Congress leader Kripa Shankar Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act, three months after the Supreme Court dismissed his plea seeking stay on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the allegations.

The Supreme Court had in September directed Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh, who is heading the SIT, to submit a final report or a closure report before a trial court in Mumbai.

Police wrote to Dilip Walse-Patil, the Assembly speaker last week, seeking sanction to proceed against Kalina MLA Singh, who resigned as the city Congress chief last year following allegations of corruption. The Prevention of Corruption Act demands that the investigating agency seeks prosecution sanction from the controlling authority of any public servant against whom it intends to proceed.

According to the Mumbai Police sources, the SIT probe revealed that Singh amassed assets around 20 per cent more that his sources of income.

Satyapal Singh and Walse-Patil remained unavailable for comment, but police sources said a watertight case has been prepared against Singh. “Police have sought permission to prosecute a senior politician, which proves the cops have a strong case,” a source said.

Kripa Shankar Singh’s troubles started in 2010, when activist Sanjay Tiwari filed a complaint against the politician with the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Not satisfied with the ACB probe, Tiwari filed a public interest litigation in the High Court, which directed the then Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik to register an offence. Kripa Shankar challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court, which didn't stay the probe but started monitoring the investigation.

THE ALLEGATIONS
Tiwari alleged in his PIL that Kripa Shankar was close to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, an accused in the multi-crore hawala scam and other corruption cases.

Kripa Shankar’s son Narendra is married to Ankita, daughter of Kamlesh Singh, who was a minister in the Koda-led Cabinet. The PIL alleged that Ankita received Rs 1.75 crore from Kamlesh's bank account, and that there were huge transactions from the bank accounts of Kripa Shankar's wife Malti too.

The PIL, which Kripa Shankar termed “politically motivated”, said that the Congress leader bought a number of properties in a span of just two years (between 2004 and 2006).

In November 2009, Mumbai Mirror revealed thataNaviMumbaipropertyworthRs25crore, in the name of Kripa Shankar's wife, was not mentioned in the affidavit declaring his assets ahead of the 2009 Assembly elections.

The purchase agreement was signed by the power of attorney holder, a constable named Vishnukant Shukla (how does a constable hold the power of attorney for a plot worth Rs 25 crore bought by the Congress leader's wife in 2004, Mumbai Mirror, November 17, 2009).

Kripa Shankar is also accused of not declaring two plots co-owned by his wife, and a duplex apartment in Vile Parle, bought in the name of his wife and son, to which he said the apartment was bought by his son and that his wife's ownership was only nominal.
Courtesy:
Abhijit.Sathe @timesgroup.com TWEET @_abhijit_sathe
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=MIRRORNEW&BaseHref=MMIR/2013/12/03&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00600&ViewMode=HTML

IRRIGATION SCAM: Govt saves face, names irrigation SIT members at the 11th hour

Mumbai: In a last-ditch effort to save itself from major embarrassment, the state government announced late on Monday the terms of references as well as the names of members of the special investigation team (SIT) to probe the alleged multi-crore irrigation scam.

The announcement came at 11.40pm, just 20 minutes before the expiry of the government’s self-imposed December 31 deadline.

According to a release put out by the CM’s office, the SIT, headed by water management expert Madhavrao Chitale, will have three former bureaucrats—retired additional chief secretary (finance) A K D Jadhav, retired irrigation secretary V M Ranade and retired agriculture commissioner Krishna Lavekar— as its members. The SIT, which will be headquartered in Aurangabad, will have to submit its report within six months.

The government also announced the SIT’s terms of reference, which include reasons for lesser irrigated area, cost escalation in projects and the delay in execution and implementation of the projects. The SIT will also probe if administrative procedures were followed while approving the cost escalations. The government has asked the SIT to recommend measures it needs to take to complete irrigation projects within deadlines.

Water resources minister Sunil Tatkare had announced the formation of the SIT in the state legislative assembly on December 17. “The SIT probe will certainly go beyond what the white paper has already established,” he had said.

“The government took its own sweet time to make the announcement. Fearing criticism from the Opposition in case the government missed the deadline, Chavan made the announcement at the eleventh hour,” a Mantralaya official said. “The difference of opinion among the coalition partners on the SIT’s terms of reference led to the delay.”

For the past few months, the Congress and the NCP have been at loggerhead over the irrigation issue. The NCP’s Ajit Pawar had to resign following allegations of irregularities in irrigation projects. After the government’s white paper practically gave Pawar a clean chit, he was re-inducted into the state cabinet. The Opposition condemned Pawar’s re-induction, following which the CM agreed to an SIT probe.

STORY SO FAR

• Following allegations by opposition parties over the irrigation scam worth Rs 70,000 crore, the CM announced an SIT probe
• The white paper tabled by the government in November claimed 28% rise in the irrigation potential in the past 10 years
• The state economic survey cited .01% rise in irrigated area in Maharashtra while the white paper tabled by the government claims 5.17% rise

Courtesy:
Sanjeev Shivadekar TNN
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/01/01&PageLabel=8&EntityId=Ar00800&ViewMode=HTML

Congress MLA KripaShankar Singh not grilled despite FIR in Scams

Mumbai: Activist Sanjay Tiwari has complained to the state police chief that former Congress city chief Kripashankar Singh has still not been interrogated despite an FIR filed against him. Tiwari’s PIL seeking a probe into the disproportionate assets of Singh was converted into an FIR by the Bombay high court early this year.

He said custodial interrogation is necessary to find out about the politician’s assets. The high court had directed the police to treat Tiwari’s petition as an FIR. The PIL questioned the wealth illegally amassed by Singh, his wife Malti Devi, son Narendra Mohan and daughter Sunita, son-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Their wealth allegedly exceeded Rs 350 crore. The court, after going through sealed copies of ACB reports, had even directed then police chief Arup Patnaik to personally head the special investigation team after going through reports submitted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau against Singh.

The police registered an FIR on February 28 under IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act and the Supreme Court has given the SIT time till October-end to complete the probe under supervision of new police chief Satyapal Singh.

The SIT has so far submitted two sealed reports to the SC on the probe. Tiwari’s counsel Ram Jethmalani had argued that the probe has been going on for the last two years, yet its progress remains unknown as reports have been confidential.

Last week, Tiwari wrote to the new police chief saying, “Neither Singh nor his relatives have been called for questioning.” No member of the Singh family has been arrested, nor has Kripashankar or his family sought anticipatory bail, Tiwari said, adding “two FIRs are already lodged and in the ordinary course any person in his place would have been arrested.” He said new facts had emerged since the FIR was lodged and said there was a likelihood that some family members may leave the country and it was important to impound their passports. Kripashankar’s counsel Mukul Rohtagi said he was abroad and unable to talk.

Kripashankar said since his “SLP was pending before the SC, it will not be proper for me to make any comment.”

Courtesy:
Swati Deshpande TNN
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/10/01&PageLabel=10&EntityId=Ar01002&ViewMode=HTML