The MP police have kept out the name of State Industries Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya from its first information report (FIR) on the Indore land scam, though the Congress thinks he is the main accused.
The police attached to the office of the Lokayukta have submitted the FIR relating to the R100 crore scam before a special court.
Congress leader Suresh Seth had alleged before the Lokayukta that in 1980 the Indore municipality leased a plot to Dhanlaxmi Chemical Industry for 30 years.
But in 2004, when Vijayvargiya was Indore mayor, Dhanalaxmi sold the leased land to Nagar Sakh Sahkari Sanstha Maryadit, headed by his associate Ramesh Mendola, for R1.28 crore, though the market price was more than R100 crore.
Mendola was then mayor-in-council of the municipality.
The Lokayukta is the highest body in states to probe corruption charges in government.
In April Congress spokesman K.K. Mishra had raised doubts on the fairness of the Lokayukta probe into the Indore land deal involving Vijayvargiya, alleging connections between the ombudsman, Justice P.P. Navlekar, and the minister.
Justice Navlekar, however, had then refuted the allegation. He said the charge would not impact the investigation. “If he (Mishra) has any problem, he is free to approach the court that has ordered the probe,” Justice Navlekar had said.
{{/usCountry}}Justice Navlekar, however, had then refuted the allegation. He said the charge would not impact the investigation. “If he (Mishra) has any problem, he is free to approach the court that has ordered the probe,” Justice Navlekar had said.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress now believes that Vijayvargiya has been let off. The party has said Mendola’s name has been included because, given the volume of evidence, it would have been impossible to omit both of them from the FIR.
“It was a clear-cut case in which I’ve submitted documentary evidence that prove that the sale of the land in 2004 was carried out with the connivance of Vijayvargiya. My objection is that if the FIR report admits that the sale was illegal, how could it omit Vijayvargiya’s name?” Seth said.