Maharashtra government reinstates tainted bureaucrat

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has revoked the suspension of chief engineer Anilkumar Gaikwad, who was booked in the high profile Maharashtra Sadan scam. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the state had named Mr Gaikwad as “accused number seven” in the Maharashtra Sadan scam.

Mr Gaikwad was suspended for allegedly committing irregularities, but the state government has revoked Mr Gaikwad’s suspension and reinstated him as chief engineer of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Former public work department minister and NCP MLA Chhagan Bhujbal were arrested for this same case in March 2016.

The ACB had made a case against Mr Gaikwad as he was the chief engineer in PWD when the Maharashtra Sadan was granted permission. The ACB had levelled charges that Messer’s Chamankar and Enterprise, which had got the contract to build Maharashtra Sadan had given a bribe of `13 crore to Mr Bhujbal. But the ACB did not have any concrete proof of monetary transaction and procedural irregularities in Maharashtra Sadan case.

The ACB case had serious loopholes like its important valuator Shirsh Sukhatme’s report that was received in haste by ACB. The Asian Age has reported about this damaging loophole and how it had weakened the case on March 26.

Mr Bhujbal is allegedly involved in the Maharashtra Sadan scam. There is a case registered against Mr Bhujbal over the state library plot at Santacruz. In this case, the ACB has charged Mr Bhujbal of allegedly receiving `2.5 crore bribe from India Bulls company.