ED starts preliminary inquiry into Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare case

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate has started a preliminary enquiry into allegations of corruption against state Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare.

"We have started preliminary inquiry and now we are going through the documents submitted by ACB," an ED official said.

The move comes a month after Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau had sought help from the central agencies in connection with corruption allegations against Tatkare.

ACB had sought the help of ED, Income Tax Department and Securities and Exchange Board of India ( SEBI) among others, following a complaint filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya that various government agencies had aided Tatkare in his "dubious" land deals and other activities.

Somaiyya also filed a PIL against the NCP Minister in the Bombay High Court; court recently asked the State Government to spell out its stand. The PIL alleges that Tatkare abused his official position to float companies in the names of his relatives and employees, and amassed vast wealth.

The minister has denied all the allegations.