Ex-minister Eknath Khadse appears before land grab probe panel

Khadse, who resigned in the wake of the controversy last year, appeared before the Committee at 12 noon to present his evidence and to record his statement.

Nagpur, Feb 14: Senior BJP leader and former Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse on Tuesday appeared before the Dinkar Zoting Committee, which is probing the land grab allegations against him, here but could not record his statement as the hearing was adjourned till February 21 on request made by MIDC.

Khadse, who resigned in the wake of the controversy last year, appeared before the Committee at 12 noon to present his evidence and to record his statement, sources said. However, the hearing was adjourned to February 21 on the request made by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) which claims to own the land under dispute in Pune.

The one-man committee was appointed on June 23 last year by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis following allegations by the opposition that a plot of land of MIDC located at Bhosri near Pune was transferred in the name of Khadse's wife in a case of conflict of interest by Khadse who was heading Revenue portfolio then.

Meanwhile, an official said the Zoting Committee may submit its report three weeks after the process of recording of evidence and hearing of arguments is completed. The committee operates from Ravi Bhavan in Nagpur. Khadse had already denied the allegations of wrongdoing and claimed the said plot was never in possession of MIDC.

PTI