Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis's decision on ACB plea against Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal awaited

MUMBAI: Though his 38-day old government does not need support of NCP any longer with Shiv Sena coming aboard, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is yet to take a decision on proposal of inquiry into corruption cases against former ministers from the Sharad Pawar-led party.

The state Anti-Corruption Bureau had proposed "open inquiry" against former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and state NCP president Sunil Tatkare in the irrigation scam, and former PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal in the Maharashtra Sadan scam.

"The files from ACB, which were received during the President's rule (prior to October elections), have been forwarded to Chief Minister's office," Raj Bhavan sources told PTI today.

"The Governor did not take any decision on these files but only forwarded them," they said, denying the media reports that Ch Vidyasagar Rao had taken a decision on the issue.

The home department has already cleared the cases (for inquiry), but final nod is awaited from the government.

It is being speculated in the political circles that the BJP-led government, which now has a comfortable majority in the state Assembly, would give the nod for ACB inquiry.

"Now that we are in power, the decision on these and other corruption cases involving former Congress-NCP ministers should be taken. We are monitoring (the developments)," a senior Sena leader told PTI.

Ajit Pawar and Tatkare were in charge of water resources department at different times during Congress-NCP regime.

BJP, then in the opposition, had alleged irregularities in the irrigation projects and a Rs 70,000 crore scam.

The ACB approached the government for permission for probe on August 22, when Congress-NCP government was in power. The Home department approved its proposal on September 1. On October 14, ACB submitted a special report making a strong case to launch a probe against Bhujbal.

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