Veiled attack: Cong seeks CBI inquiry into 'irregularities' in power cos in Maharashtra

All through the Congress-NCP’s reign, the energy department was headed by the NCP, with heavy-weight leaders like Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Dilip Walse Patil being in charge at different times.

In an extension to the power tussle between the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party over the post of council chairman, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Congress member and leader of Opposition asked for a CBI probe into irregularities in state-run power companies during the previous Congress-NCP government.

Opposition-leader-and-Congress-member-Radhakrishna-Vikhe-Patil-arrives-for-Maharashtra-legislature-s-budget-session-at-Vidhan-Bhavan-in-Mumbai-Kunal-Patil-HT-photo

All through the Congress-NCP’s reign, the energy department was headed by the NCP, with heavy-weight leaders like Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Dilip Walse Patil being in charge at different times.

Vikhe-Patil, speaking in the state assembly session on Thursday said, “In the past 10 years of our government, there were many irregularities in state-run companies responsible for power generation, transmission and distribution. I demand a CBI inquiry. We need a white paper and an audit.” He asked the BJP government to “drive away the darkness of our times”.

Vikhe-Patil alleged during the previous government, some companies made agreements worth Rs21,000 crore without floating tenders, and that MAHAGENCO was using inferior quality coal, causing 20-25% generation losses.

He said the Rs 5,000-crore Parli project had not been started. He also asked for a probe into the Mula-Pravara electricity cooperative society, run by the Vikhe-Patil family, as its license was cancelled citing arrears.