‘Probe role of Bhujbal’s officer’

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya has alleged that an officer on special duty (OSD) in the office of the Public Works Department (PWD) minister Chhagan Bhujbal was in touch with PWD officer Satish Chikhalikar who has been arrested by the anti- corruption bureau.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya has alleged that an officer on special duty (OSD) in the office of the Public Works Department (PWD) minister Chhagan Bhujbal was in touch with PWD officer Satish Chikhalikar who has been arrested by the anti- corruption bureau.

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In a letter written to the director general of the Anti Corruption Bureau on Friday, Somaiya has demanded an investigation into the role of Sandeep Bedse, OSD of Bhujbal, as he was allegedly involved in the liaising work.

Somaiya has demanded the links of the contracts amounting Rs 114.89 crore for roads at three locations in Nashik should be checked by the agency.

“The interactions of Chikhalikar and Jagdish Wagh over landline and mobile with officials in Mantralaya and PWD should be interogated. Bedse was believably involved in the liaising work and his links need to be examined,” Somaiya has stated.

Bedse, however, has refuted allegations that he had any relations either with Chikhalikar or the contracts. “I don’t have any connections with those officers. I had never spoken with them about anything,” he said.

Chikhlikar, a PWD executive engineer in the Nashik division, was suspended on Monday. The Nashik anti-corruption bureau seized 78 files that has records of his and family’s finances. Chikhlikar holds assets of more than Rs 14 crore.

The ACB on Wednesday also recovered gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 2 crore and Rs 7.5 crore in cash from bank lockers and his residence.