New probe in Cidco land deals: CM

Two committees will now investigate all the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) land deals between October 2009 and March 2010, estimated to be around Rs 2,500 crore.

Two committees will now investigate all the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) land deals between October 2009 and March 2010, estimated to be around Rs 2,500 crore.

HT Image

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced the second probe after a July 21 report in HT raised concerns over the propriety of the one-man committee of urban development secretary T C Benjamin probing the deals when he was one of its directors.

The decision was taken at the end of the state legislature on Tuesday.

While Benjamin will look into decisions taken by Cidco's managing director G S Gill, another panel will look into decisions taken by the board of directors, which includes Benjamin, Chavan told HT on Wednesday.

"Since Benjamin is on the Cidco board, another inquiry led by a secretary will probe decisions taken by the board," Chavan said, adding that he ordered the probe after the HT report.

The state is yet to announce who will conduct it.

Till the two probes are completed, all decisions on land use, change of land use and modification of tender clauses during this six-month period have been stayed.