Eknath Khadse lands in another controversy

MUMBAI: Maharashtra revenue minister Eknath Khadse finds himself embroiled in yet another controversy. The latest controversy involves the purchase of a three acre plot in Bosari(Pune) by his family which was reserved for the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation(MIDC). The Bosari unit of the MIDC has objected to the purchase of the land by the Khadse family.

Pune-based builder Hemant Gawande had alleged that Khadse brought the plot in his wife and son-in-law's name from one Abbas Ukani. Khadse has claimed that he bought the plot for Rs 3.75 crore. The current market price of the plot is around Rs 25 crore. Interestingly, Ukani had filed a case filed a case against MIDC in the Bombay High Court to stop the plot's acquisition by the state agency, but he lost the case. Questions are now being raised as to why the Khadse family bought the plot when MIDC was to acquire it.

While Khadse has claimed that there was no conflict of interest, the Bosari unit of MIDC has written to senior MIDC officials objecting to the sale of the plot.

Meanwhile, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Anti-Terrorism Squad to take over the probe of the alleged Dawood calls to the minister.

Khadse is also facing heat as one of his aides was arrested by the Anti-corruption Bureau for demanding a Rs 30-crore bribe in a land deal.