File pic
Pune: The Maharashtra Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday granted clean chit to Former Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Eknath Khadse, in an alleged Bhosari land scam, official sources said.
According to the report submitted by ACB in a court here said that the allegations of “misuse of power and position as Minister” in the Bhosari MIDC land deal have not been proved.
Khadse’s Ministry was taken away by the Devendra Fadnavis government after his name appeared in the Rs 40 crore land purchase scam in the Bhosari area near Pune. In June 2016 a complaint was lodged by former Aam Aadmi Party leader Anjali Damania.
Reacting to the development, Khadse reiterated on Tuesday that he had done no wrong and that the case was without basis or merit.
“The allegations against me were levelled with malicious intent. They have been proved false. Those who levelled charges against me have fallen flat on their faces. I don’t want to discuss how some people very close to me betrayed me, but I will continue to work in the same spirit as before,” Khadse said.
On his re-induction in the Cabinet by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he said: “I will abide by whatever decision the party takes.”
However, after the clean chit given to khadse, Damania said she would challenge the ACB clean in the Bombay High Court.
“This is how the BJP saves their corrupt ministers. I had given all proof in the Bhosari land (deal) to the ACB in August 2017,” Damania said.
Khadse along with his wife Mandakini, son-in-law Girish Chaudhari also got relief by the ACB.
