HC cautions state legislature against siphoning off MLA fund

Mumbai, Sep 18 (UNI) The Bombay High Court has alerted the state legislature as also Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh against siphoning off of MLA and MLC funds, after it came across a case where some agents had demanded and received commission on procurement of MLC Funds for building repairs in the Metropolis.

The matter that brought this to the fore involved bouncing of a cheque issued by Mohammed Hussain and Iqbaal Mohammed Hussain, to an approved contractor of MHADA, Abdul Sattar Qureshi.

The Hussains had received Rs three lakhs from Qureshi, on the promise that they would procure for him Rs 15 lakhs from MLC fund for repair of three buildings.

But when the Hussains could arrange for only Rs 8 lakhs, Qureshi demanded the amount paid by way of commission to be returned and after much hesitation, the Hussains issued a post dated cheque in his favour, which bounced.

Qureshi had moved to the High Court after his case was rejected by a Metropolitan court.

While rejecting Qureshi's application, Justice B H Marlapalle has observed that it was matter of seruous concern. The court has directed the Director of Prosecution to place its order before the Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Chairman of the Legislative Council and the Chief Minister, so that corrective steps could be taken to ensure no amount from the MLA or MLC fund is siphoned off.

UNI