Rape, corruption allegations against Maharashtra ministers, separate probes ordered

The opposition raised allegations of rape against Devendra Fadnavis' minister but refused to name the non-BJP minister

A minister in the Maharashtra cabinet has been accused of rape while another faces charges of corruption. The opposition highlighted allegations of corruption against one BJP minister and charges of rape against another minister from allied parties in the state assembly.

While being careful not to name the minister from one of the allies of the BJP in Maharashtra, senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar produced a CD in the assembly. He said that the CD contained details of allegations against the minister by a woman from Sangli. Pawar said that the minister belonged to one of the allied parties and he was not revealing his name since he had not issued a notice via the house to the concerned minister.

"I am willing to hand over his CD to the speaker where the woman has made allegations. The woman, the sole breadwinner in her family has accused the minister of rape and also adds that she was being blackmailed by him," Pawar told the house. Speaker Haribhau Bagade has ordered a probe into the allegations against the minister. Minister of State for Home Dr Ranjit Patil will conduct the probe as per the speaker's directions. Eknath Khadse, a former minister, however, later added that woman had withdrawn her allegations against the minister.

Housing Minister accused of scam

Maharashtra housing minister Prakash Mehta has been accused of corruption in slum rehabilitation authority scam. Chief Minister Devendra FAdnavis was forced to order an inquiry after the opposition accused the BJP minister of violating rules to provide additional Floor Space Index to a private developer.

The opposition created a ruckus in the house accusing the minister allowing the developer to avail a profit of up to Rs 500 crore. "The file of the project had a remark that the Chief Minister has been consulted while allotting extra FSI but that was false. Was the Chief Minister kept in dark to benefit a private developer?" asked Prithviraj Chavhan. The NCP also joined the chorus in demanding a probe into the matter alleging lack of transparency.

Prakash Mehta told the house that he would welcome any probe and the decision to allot extra land was in keeping with the policy of the previous government. An inquiry has now been ordered into the matter.

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