HC rap for Maha govt over Pune land scam case

Mumbai, Jan 17 (PTI) Rapping the Maharashtra governmentfor its slow probe in the land grab scam in Pune, the BombayHigh Court today directed it to lodge FIRs in 18 cases wherebogus orders were used under the Urban Land Ceiling andRegulation Act (ULCA).

A division bench of Justices B H Marlapalle and U D Salvidirected the additional collector and competent authorities toregister FIRs within one week and submit a report by January31. The principal secretary of the Urban DevelopmentDepartment has also been directed to file affidavit by then.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filedby BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari alleging that bogusdocuments were used and orders passed under the ULCA.

The scam was unearthed in 2005 when the deputycollector''s office in Pune received a forged and fabricatedcertificate under the Act, declaring a plot near Pune asnon-surplus.

According to the PIL, Yogesh Mhase, former officer onspecial duty to the then deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, wasalso involved in the scam.

Of the 29 files shortlisted, FIRs have been filed in 11cases. The government today told the court that it wouldrequire six weeks time to scrutinise the remaining 18 files.

The court, however, refused to grant time.