CM Fadnavis gives clean chit to industries minister over alleged MIDC land scam

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has given a clean chit to state industries minister, Subhash Desai, after ex-additional chief secretary, K.P. Bakshi, recommended that there was “no conflict of interest” in de-notifying the MIDC land under the scanner. Mr Bakshi inquired into all de-notification of land in the past 15 years, and concluded that Mr Desai had acted in the same manner as earlier industries ministers.

While pointing out irregularities, Mr Bakshi recommended that the government make procedural changes. Mr Fadnavis backed all other ministers targeted by the opposition, except for former minister, Eknath Khadse. Retali-ating to Mr Khadse’s reference to “rats”, Mr Fadnavis said, “Lions and tigers (the BJP and Shiv Sena) are in power, and we will teach the rats a lesson in the 2019 elections.”