Irrigation scam: senior state officials face probe

Former BJP legislator Babanrao Lonikar had filed a police complaint last month in which he wanted state officials to be booked for criminal breach of trust under sections 406 and 409 of the Indian Penal Code.

Former BJP legislator Babanrao Lonikar had filed a police complaint last month in which he wanted state officials to be booked for criminal breach of trust under sections 406 and 409 of the Indian Penal Code.

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The complaint led to a court direction on Friday to file an FIR against 26 state officials.

HT had reported on October 17 and 18 that 11 barrages built in the Marathwada region had cost the state exchequer nearly Rs. 2,000 crore as the project cost was hiked over 10 times and another Rs1,200 crore was spent for their completion.

Following Lonikar’s demand in the legislature in 2008, then water resources minister Ajit Pawar had asked then water secretary MK Kulkarni to probe the allegation. Lonikar claimed that the report, submitted last year, has indicted officials for irregularities.

Lonikar’s complaint says that GIDC upgraded the projects without the central water commission’s approval and that the storage capacity did not increase despite an altered design.

The Jawahar Nagar police in Aurangabad told HT that they are yet to receive the court order.