Eknath Khadse attends BJP's state-level executive meet in Pune

Pune, June 18: Former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse on Saturday arrived at BJP's two-day state-level executive meet here, putting an end to speculations that he may not attend the event in the wake of his resignation from the cabinet after a host of allegations including irregularities in a land deal.

The 64-year-old BJP leader arrived at Bal Gandharv auditorium, the venue of the meet at around 9.30 am on Saturday.

BJP's state-level unit members, MLAs and MPs from the state besides ministers are participating in the meet, where union ministers-M Venkaiah Naidu, Piyush Goyal, Prakash Javadekar along with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadanavis, state BJP president Raosaheb Danve will address the inauguration ceremony.

Considered "number two" in the Cabinet handling some vital portfolios, Khadse resigned on June 4 after facing heat over a series of allegations including irregularities in a land deal in Pune and calls allegedly received from mob boss Dawood Ibrahim's residence in Karachi on his mobile phone besides the alleged bribe sought by his "PA".

He found himself in a spot over the purchase of a three-acre Maharashtra Industrial Development Corp land here allegedly at a low price of around Rs 3.75 crore from its original owner in the name of his wife and son-in-law.

The market value of the land is reportedly Rs 40 crore.

PTI