BJP leader Eknath Khadse yet to pay rent for overstaying at government bungalow in Mumbai? | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
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BJP leader Eknath Khadse yet to pay rent for overstaying at government bungalow in Mumbai?

Hindustan Times | By, Mumbai
Dec 11, 2017 09:49 AM IST

The Maharashtra public works department (PWD) sent Khadse a notice of Rs15.50 lakh, asking him to pay the charges as early as possible.

An RTI query has revealed that after resigning as revenue minister from the BJP-led state government, senior party leader Eknath Khadse is yet to pay the charges for overstaying at the posh government bungalow — Ramtek.

Khadse has denied the claims, and said that he vacated the bungalow in September itself.(HT File)
Khadse has denied the claims, and said that he vacated the bungalow in September itself.(HT File)

The state public works department (PWD) has also sent him a notice of Rs15.50 lakh, asking him to pay the charges as early as possible.

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However, Khadse clarified that the rent was charged for overstaying for five months, whereas he stayed only for three months. He has also filed an appeal before chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in this regard.

Following a series of graft allegations, Khadse, who was considered number two in the BJP government, was forced to resign from the minister’s post on June 4.

As a senior minister, he was allotted the sprawling 8,857-square-feet bungalow, Ramtek, located at upmarket Malabar Hill.

According to the reminder notice issued by the PWD on November 18, for the next three months — June 20, 2016 to September 19, 2016, he was charged with Rs25 per sq ft as rent for the bungalow, while for the next two months until November 11 the same year, the rent charged was doubled up, as per the existing rules.

However, Khadse said he vacated the bungalow in September itself.

A letter in this regard was also sent to the general administration department (GAD). This notice of recovery has been issued by PWD, against which he has filed an appeal before the CM.

“It’s a case of miscommunication, as I had vacated the bungalow before the deadline of three months that ended on September 19, and also have a copy of the letter that was sent to GAD informing the same. Why should I pay when I haven’t stayed there? My appeal is pending before the CM,” Khadse told HT.

He further said that he has paid rent for overstaying for first three months at Ramtek.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Faisal is with the political team and covers state administration and state politics. He also covers NCP.

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