NAGPUR: Rejecting all allegations made against him in the multi-crore irrigation scam, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar once against opposed any move to hand over the investigation to central agencies like the CBI, ED, Serious Fraud Investigating Office (SFIO), and I-T Department.
Ahead of next week’s final hearing into the PILs filed by petitioners Jan Manch and Atul Jagtap, Pawar, who is respondent number 7, asserted that no exceptional case was made out by petitioners for handing over the investigation to central agencies.
Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had opposed the handing over of the investigation to the CBI, ED, SFIO and I-T, saying it would hamper its ongoing investigations. It said it was working diligently and registered many offences against contractors and VIDC officials through its Special Investigations Teams (SITs) in Nagpur and Amravati divisions.
Pawar in his latest affidavit filed before the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court this week stated that change of government after assembly polls can not be the grounds for change of investigating agency. “When the petitioner has full faith in investigating agency earlier, how has he lost faith after the change in the government?” he said.
Questioning the locus standi of Jagtap, Pawar said he was himself the contractor and had filed many tenders in various projects. “The petitioner shouldn’t use courts for settling personal scores. He’s having a mala fide notion of a scam which is yet to be proved. The courts can’t look or supervise investigations and also can’t direct that particular person should me made an accused,” he said.
Denying Jagtap’s allegations that the investigation against Pawar was not being conducted properly, the three-time deputy chief minister said he was being questioned and interrogated on September 11 last year, and also made to provide written replies to questionnaire. “The petitioner shouldn’t have biased approach as investigations against him were conducted during previous government and various FIRs against contractors were lodged in their tenure. I can’t be called on to answer every question, as I am not made as an accused in any complaint so far.”
Ahead of next week’s final hearing into the PILs filed by petitioners Jan Manch and Atul Jagtap, Pawar, who is respondent number 7, asserted that no exceptional case was made out by petitioners for handing over the investigation to central agencies.
Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had opposed the handing over of the investigation to the CBI, ED, SFIO and I-T, saying it would hamper its ongoing investigations. It said it was working diligently and registered many offences against contractors and VIDC officials through its Special Investigations Teams (SITs) in Nagpur and Amravati divisions.
Pawar in his latest affidavit filed before the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court this week stated that change of government after assembly polls can not be the grounds for change of investigating agency. “When the petitioner has full faith in investigating agency earlier, how has he lost faith after the change in the government?” he said.
Questioning the locus standi of Jagtap, Pawar said he was himself the contractor and had filed many tenders in various projects. “The petitioner shouldn’t use courts for settling personal scores. He’s having a mala fide notion of a scam which is yet to be proved. The courts can’t look or supervise investigations and also can’t direct that particular person should me made an accused,” he said.
Denying Jagtap’s allegations that the investigation against Pawar was not being conducted properly, the three-time deputy chief minister said he was being questioned and interrogated on September 11 last year, and also made to provide written replies to questionnaire. “The petitioner shouldn’t have biased approach as investigations against him were conducted during previous government and various FIRs against contractors were lodged in their tenure. I can’t be called on to answer every question, as I am not made as an accused in any complaint so far.”
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app