MUMBAI: Broadening his attack on chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Friday accused several Shiv Sena leaders, including BMC mayor Kishori Pednekar and transport minister Anil Parab, of grabbing public land.
He also claimed that the Sena-controlled BMC had paid Rs 354 crore to buy land in Dahisar which was worth nearly Rs 2.6 crore, and that there was a Rs 3,000-crore scam in the plan to set up a 5,000-bed Covid hospital at Mulund. Most of these charges have already been publicised over the last few months.
Somaiya also claimed that he now had proof of 30 sale transactions between the late Anvay Naik and his family and Thackeray's wife Rashmi. "The Thackeray family has 40 land transactions and 30 of these are with Anvay Naik. Isn't this unusual?" he asked. Republic TV founder Arnab Goswami has been accused in abetting Naik's suicide by not settling his dues.
But speaking to a TV channel, Anvay Naik's daughter Agya said, "These land transactions are open documents. What is the connection between these transactions and my father's suicide? When my father's last rites were conducted in 2018, why was Kirit Somaiya silent?"
Sena leaders too lashed out at Somaiya saying he had no proof. Pednekar referred to him as 'Shikhandi' who wanted to create trouble. "We have already clarified. We do not respond to him every time he makes an allegation," she said.
"There is no basis for his charges...We will respond in detail after Diwali. Then he should respond to the charges we level," said Parab.
Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the BJP's plans would fail and the MVA government would complete five years' term. "Where was the spokesperson of this party of traders (shetji) when Naik's wife became a widow? He is speaking now because he wants to divert and derail the investigation."
Somaiya alleged that Pednekar had grabbed SRA land meant to re-house slumdwellers and put up galas, and that Parab had grabbed Mhada land and the agency had even raised an objection. "Will the CM probe this?" he asked.
Somaiya claimed the BMC had paid Rs 354 crore to Ajmera builders for a Rs 2.6 crore Dahisar plot. "We have made a complaint with the Lokayukta," he said.
"There was also a plan to give land worth Rs 3,000 crore to a builder linked to the Thackerays for the 5,000-bed hospital. We complained to governor B S Koshyari, who has used his suo motu powers to get the Lokayukta to probe this."