Mumbai: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khade is in trouble over the alleged Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) land grab case. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is upset with allegations against Khadse and has sought an explanation from him and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, sources said.
According to sources, Fadnavis is in Delhi and will meet Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah, who has also sought a report in the case.
Khadse is in a spot over the purchase of the 3-acre MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) land in Bhosari allegedly at a throwaway price of around Rs 3.75 crore from its original owner in the name of his wife and son-in-law. The builder, Hemant Gavande, had claimed the market value of the land was Rs 40 crore.
But, Khadse has denies the allegation and said that he has not been asked to quit.
However, BJP leaders want some action in the case. "With new facts out, Eknath Khadse is under cloud of suspicion. The party will take a decision soon," said Union Minister Satyapal Singh.
The Aam Admi Party, too, has upped the ante against Khadse demanding his removal and calling for an independent court monitored probe into the case
Defending the deal, Khadse had claimed the land was never acquired by MIDC from its original owner.
Hemant Gavande, a whistleblower in the MIDC land scam, claimed that there had been no action against Khadse.
"After I revealed the details of sale deed regarding the MIDC land in Bhosari, I presumed that MIDC will take necessary action and will approach police, however they did not do anything, prompting me to approach police to lodge a complaint," said Gavande.
"Khadse had misused his office and has used his influence as a revenue minister to usurp and grab the piece and parcel of land or its benefits which admittedly has been acquired by MIDC, Bhosari, in 1971. It is an admitted position that, there are various industries on the said property and without the consent of MIDC and those industries no transaction, that too in the form of registered sale deed, would have been possible," he alleged.
Gavande had alleged the land was purchased on April 28, 2016 from the original owner Abbas Ukani, a resident of West Bengal, keeping its present owner, MIDC, in the dark.
Gavande said he would file a criminal case in the High Court and seek a probe by the anti-corruption wing of CBI besides the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department in absence of fair investigation.
He claimed that Khadase would have earned the profit of approximately Rs 80 crore through the "shady deal", denting the state exchequer.
(With additional information from PTI)
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