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This story is from October 22, 2014

NCP ditched Cong the day Ajit Pawar faced irrigation scam probe

On the day then CM Prithviraj Chavan was expected to consider a proposal for an “open inquiry” in the irrigation scam, NCP, withdrew support to the govt, according to sources.
NCP ditched Cong the day Ajit Pawar faced irrigation scam probe
MUMBAI: On the day then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan was expected to consider a proposal for an “open inquiry” against NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare in the irrigation scam, NCP, by design or by a stroke of coincidence, withdrew support to the government, according to sources. On Monday, TOI had reported on the speculation that NCP’s offer of support to BJP was motivated by the fear of investigations into alleged scams by its ministers.
A senior Congress leader on Tuesday linked NCP’s decision to withdraw support to the anti-corruption bureau’s proposal for an “open inquiry” against Pawar and Tatkare. “ACB sent its proposal to the government on August 22. After a legal nod, the chief secretary was in the process of submitting it to the home minister and then to the CM for approval in the last week of September,” he said.
The Congress leader maintained that NCP withdrew support to the government on September 26, resulting in President’s rule on September 28, in view of these “unexpected developments". As opposed to a discreet inquiry—which is conducted discreetly—an open inquiry empowers the anti-corruption bureau to issue summons to the persons under the scanner.

A file photo of Vijay Pandhare, whistleblower in the irrigation scam case. (TOI photo)
Chavan on Tuesday said he was unaware of the ACB proposal’s status. “The proposal was not brought to my notice. But I read in the media that ACB has sought the go-ahead for an open inquiry against two former NCP cabinet members,” the former CM said.
NCP leader Praful Patel stressed it was wrong to link the ACB probe and NCP’s withdrawal of support. “We contend that there was no scam in the irrigation department. The probe by a water expert had showed no irregularities on part of the NCP cabinet members,” Patel said.

Thane-based social worker Praveen Wategaonkar lodged a “specific complaint” with the ACB for an open inquiry against Pawar and Tatkare, both of whom held the water resources portfolio in the past, on August 20. “The bureau sought the government’s nod on August 22,” Wategaonkar said. He alleged there were “irregularities in the allotment of contracts for 12 irrigation projects in the Konkan region, resulting in the loss of Rs 2,000 crore to the state exchequer”.
According to a senior ACB official, after approval for an open inquiry was sought, the chief secretary took the opinion of the law and judiciary department as well as the advocate general. “No message has been sent to the ACB so far. But we have heard that legal opinion is in favour of conducting an open inquiry.”
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