Funds meant for needy used to buy high-end cars: CID docus

Documents show 64 luxury cars were bought using Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation funds and producing fake papers

Funds meant to be given as loans or financial assistance to the needy from socially backward classes were used to buy 64 vehicles, including two Mercedes and an Audi, SUVs like Mahindra XUV, Scorpio and Renault Duster, documents from the CID report revealed.

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The documents that were procured by BJP MP Kirit Somaiya also revealed that funds from Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation, a statutory corporation meant for financing the needy from other backward classes, were used to buy 64 high-end cars, including two Mercedes, one Audi, 18 Innovas, 18 Scorpios, 6 Mahindra XUVs, 7 Boleros and 2 Chevrolet Taveras, among others, using fake documents.

This revelation came to light while investigating the scam in which Rs147 crore was siphoned off from the corporation. The main accused in the case, Ramesh Kadam, NCP MLA from Mohol in Solapur, who is also the former chairman of the corporation, is lodged in Arthur Road jail.

According to the documents, Kadam, in connivance with senior officers of the corporation, bought 64 vehicles for his personal use and for his close associates. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has alleged several NCP leaders used these vehicles.

Somaiya said that NCP leaders, including former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, used funds from the corporation for contesting the state Assembly elections in 2014.

“Funds from the corporation were used by NCP leaders for contesting elections. Of them, 30 to 40 leaders have won the Assembly polls,” he claimed.

Somaiya has written a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on April 8 requesting him to initiate a probe related to money laundering and violation of election code of conduct.