He said he had met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday evening and told him to take appropriate action.
The timing of the revelations — amidst intense political contestations — cannot be ignored. The Rs 1,800 crore alleged market valuation of the land further magnifies the stakes. It also underscores how real estate remains a battleground for influence and wealth accumulation, especially when government land is involved.
Even assuming the Pawars acted in good faith, the episode illustrates a glaring gap in transparency, prudence, and ethical governance. It also raises questions about the proactive nature of the investigation in this particular questionable land deal, given that Maharashtra is no stranger to them.
So much so that even Anna Hazare has emerged from hibernation. In a sharp reaction, the erstwhile anti-corruption crusader said if children of ministers indulge in wrongdoing, it is the latter who should be blamed. The veteran social activist, who has led the (since sightly discredited) agitation which brought down the UPA II government, demanded strict action by the government if irregularities were detected in the Rs 300-crore deal.
Speaking to reporters in his native village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahilyanagar district, Hazare said, “The government should bring in policy decisions and take strong steps to curb such things. Strong action should be taken against such people (those found guilty of committing irregularities).”
