Why should citizens pay for Deshmukh’s mistake: Activists

Irked with the payment of Rs10 lakh — the penalty imposed on the union rural development minister Vilasrao Deshmukh — by the state government from the exchequer, activists are now planning to lodge an First Information Report (FIR) against him with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Pooja Domadia reports.

Irked with the payment of Rs10 lakh — the penalty imposed on the union rural development minister Vilasrao Deshmukh — by the state government from the exchequer, activists are now planning to lodge an First Information Report (FIR) against him with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

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The activists will be approaching the ACB by the end of the week. “We will try to file an FIR under section 13 of the prevention of corruption act that prohibits a public servant from taking undue favours by misusing power and influence,” said activist Krishnaraj Rao.

The Supreme Court (SC) recently passed strictures against Deshmukh for obstructing police action against moneylender father of a Congress legislator, Gokulchand Sananda. It also imposed a fine of Rs10 lakh that the state government paid earlier this month.

Activists are fuming at state government’s move. “The SC has found Deshmukh at fault. Why would a common citizen pay for a minister’s blunder? We want him to pay the amount,” said Rao.

Right to Information (RTI) activist GR Vora said, “I am shocked as to how chief minister Prithviraj Chavan agreed to pay. He is sending a wrong message to the public.”

The activists are upset about Deshmukh’s name not appearing in the FIR lodged in the Adarsh scam. “We have written a letter to the CM demanding that his name be included,” said said Vora.