Sharad Pawar is at the centre of a massive scam: Former IPS officer Y P Singh

NEW DELHI: Ex-IPS officer turned legal activist Y P Singh on Thursday said India Against Corruption activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal had held back crucial information on NCP leader and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar's role in connection with a massive scam in Maharashtra.

Singh said Kejriwal had the information to expose Sharaad Pawar but had deliberately concealed facts. "Details of the larger irrigation scam were not brought out, " Singh claimed.

Targeting Sharad Pawar over Lavasa Corporaton, Singh claimed the agriculture minister was at the centre of the real scam.

The former top cop said that Kejriwal's point that farmers' land that was acquired should be returned to farmers, was against Supreme Court guidelines. The top court says there should be a public auction of such land he added.

Singh also laid a number of charges on Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar and daughter Supriya Sule. He said Ajit Pawar had given land for Lavasa project at throwaway price. In Lavasa, Ajit Pawar granted 341 acres to Lake City Corp on 30 years lease at just Rs. 23,000 per month. In Mumbai, the smallest one bedroom house is not available for that price, Singh said.

"20.81% shares belonged to Supriya Sule and husband Sadanand Sule in Lake City Corp. Supriya Sule is Ajit Pawar's cousin. Supriya Sule had at least 10.4% share in Lake City Corp. Ajit Pawar gave the land to this company virtually free. In 2006, Sule and her husband sold shareholding - but at what cost?" Singh questioned. He said Supriya Sule had made huge gain in the land deal.

Singh also said the whistleblower revenue officer, Ramesh Kumar, was victimised for exposing the irregularities in this scam.