The Bombay high court on Tuesday reprimanded the Raigad district collector, Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and anti-corruption bureau (ACB) for not conducting proper investigations into the allegations of land grabbing and money laundering against water resources minister Sunil Tatkare. Expressing its dissatisfaction, the court granted three months’ time to these agencies to carry out investigations properly. A division bench of Justice Dhananjaya Chandrachud and Mahesh Sonak was hearing a petition filed by senior BJP leader Dr Kirit Somaiya. Perusing probe reports submitted by the two investigating agencies Justice Chandrachud termed the progress of probe “worst” and remarked, “The position of the person (Tatkare) in public domain is deflecting the fairness in the inquiry. We are very sorry to say that nothing has been done. Complete failure on the part of EOW and ACB. This is not a fair investigation. Apathy on part of the state agencies is very clear.” The court further said, “Every page of the report lacks proper application of mind. Prima facie, the investigating agencies have virtually abdicated its duty to investigate fairly on the ground that the investigations will have to be done by the Income-Tax department, the Enforcement Directorate and the Registrar of Companies.” “If at that stage the court is not satisfied with the probe, then the court would be compelled to consider handing over investigation to another agency like the CBI,” Justice Chandrachud remarked. The bench observed that the ACB report has not tried to find out what the financial standing of Mr Tatkare and his family is and there’s no explanation about where the money came from. Rejecting the contention of Mr Tatkare’s lawyer that the PIL should be dismissed and the petitioner should approach the magistrate court, the high court said, “When the high court is monitoring the case imagine this is the condition. The allegations are not frivolous. If the agencies had conducted a fair investigation, then this court would not feel the need to continue the petition.” Expressing it’s dissatisfaction over the probe, the court granted three months’ time to the two agencies complete the probe and slated the date of the next hearing on January 7, 2014. The petition sought probe by CBI into alleged money laundering and land grabbing by various companies floated by Mr Tatkare and his relatives.
