Kirit Somaiya hurls fresh allegations at Tatkare and Bhujbal

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya on Tuesday made fresh allegations of corruption against state ministers and leaders of Congress ally Nationalist Congress Party, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal, HT reports.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya on Tuesday made fresh allegations of corruption against state ministers and leaders of Congress ally Nationalist Congress Party, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal.

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He alleged that Chokhra and Gandhi, the chartered accountant firm of the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC), also audited the companies owned by the Tatkare family. He claimed that a partner in this CA firm, Sashikant Rajadhyaksha, has served as the director of many of Tatkare’s companies.

“The entire set up was created to facilitate corruption in irrigation,” said Somaiya. He alleged that these front companies were formed just to get kickbacks in irrigation projects. He called it a joint venture between former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and ministers Tatkare and Ramraje Nimbhalkar who collaborated with him. Somaiya said he would come up with evidence against Pawar in the coming days.

Tatkare brushed aside the claims, and said, “What can I say of these allegations he is making every day?” The irrigation scam has been grabbing headlines as Pawar recently resigned from the post of deputy CM after his name figured in it. To combat allegations of rampant corruption, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has promised to present a white paper on the issue.

While Bhujbal was not available for comment, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik has rubbished the allegations. “Somaiya has been going on a media trail and is assassinating the reputation of our leaders. Since he has already filed a public interest litigation, he should present his case before the court instead of holding press conferences,” said Malik.