No deal with NCP, the corrupt will not be spared: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said there was no "deal" with NCP in return for its unconditional support to his minority government, and asserted that anybody who is guilty of corruption would go to jail.

Fadnavis, who has retained the home portfolio, also said that he proposed to do away with the need for sanction to probe the corruption cases.

"Why should any sanction be necessary? We would make a framework...where preliminary inquiry is done and there is a prima facie evidence, no sanction should be taken. We would change the law," Fadnavis told reporters here today.

"There is no need for discretion (for initiating a probe) for corruption cases. When you find certain prima facie evidence, why should you stop?" he said, when asked about whether he would allow the anti-corruption bureau to conduct inquiry against NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare in connection with alleged scams in the irrigation sector.

"I will do away with mandatory government sanction to probe elected representatives, bureaucrats and police officers in corruption cases," he said.

"There is no deal between BJP and NCP. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi doesn't strike deals. If someone, even from our own party, is found guilty (of corruption), that person will go to jail," he added.

The then Maharashtra Governor had denied the CBI the sanction to prosecute former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

When asked if he might end up as another Prithviraj Chavan (who is known for personal integrity but was accused of not acting against the corrupt colleagues), Fadnavis said, "I am not Prithviraj Chavan... I am Devendra Fadnavis. My actions would speak more than my words."