Leader of Opposition warns of privilege motion against CM Devendra Fadnavis

Taking a tough stance against minister of state Sambhaji Nilangekar for his allegedly corrupt ways, leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil on Thursday said that the party would introduce a breach of privilege motion against chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Mr Vikhe-Patil said that the Congress would file a PIL against Mr Nilangekar and raise questions over the CBI’s silence in the case.

“Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis misled the Assembly over charges against two of his ministers, Mr Nilangekar and Jaykumar Rawal, and hence, we will move a breach of privilege motion against him as well as approach the court,” Mr Vikhe-Patil told media on Thursday. “In the wake of new documents that have come to light, it is clear that the ministers are guilty and hence, Mr Fadnavis should let the House know as to what action will be taken against them,” he said. The Opposition leader demanded that an inquiry under the Commission of Inquiries Act be conducted in the case.

Speaking to the media, Mr Vikhe-Patil said, “New documentary evidence shows that Mr Nilangekar might have been the sole beneficiary of the loan, as the official address of the company for whose loan he is guarantor and his own residential address are the same. The CBI has charged him with criminal conspiracy and cheating in its FIR and has also charged him with tampering with mortgage papers.” It is unfortunate that Mr Fadnavis is defending a minister who has such serious charges against him and that too, leveled by none less than the CBI, he added.

Mr Vikhe-Patil claimed that the delay in hearing of the complaint lodged by CBI in a Latur court was only due to political pressure from the Nilangekar family. Presenting papers regarding proposed action by the SIT against Mr Rawal, he said, “The SIT had sent a letter to the superintendent of police of Dhule district on August 21, 2015 for their proposed action to arrest the 56 accused in the case on August 23, 2015. But, all of a sudden, they got orders on August 24, 2015 to hand over the case to the CID. It has been clearly mentioned that the decision was taken as per directives from the chief minister”.