Mumbai:
A report that will be officially shared with the Maharashtra government next week alleges that Chhagan Bhujbal gave two plots of land in Nashik at a hefty discount to a trust run by his nephew, Sameer. The report by the government's auditor (CAG) suggests that there was a serious conflict of interest as the land that Mr Bhujbal assigned to the trust was meant for use by his Public Works ministry. The alleged value of the land was Rs. 9.39 crore, it was given to the trust for Rs. 9.08 lakh. Mr Bhujbal is a senior leader of the NCP, which partners with the Congress in the Maharashtra government.
Now, a building in Mumbai used by the same Mumbai Education Trust (MET) is also under scrutiny. The trust occupies a building at least ten floors high in Bandra which is used to run a major educational institute. But a former trustee, Sunil Karve, has complained that Bhujbal's family members are using the 8th and the 10th floor of the building for personal use without paying the Trust.
The Charity Commissioner, Sharadkumar S Patil, has ordered an inspection of the building tomorrow. The officials deputed to conduct the check will take photographs and video recordings.
The 8th floor, according to the complaint, houses an office for a furniture company linked to Sameer Bhujbal. The complaint also alleges that Mr Bhujbal's family members are using the 10th floor as a home though the rooms here are meant to function as a guest house for visiting faculty.
Last year, an official inspection confirmed that the land allotted by the minister to his nehpew's trust in Nashik was lying unutilised, prompting speculation about whether this was a case of land-grabbing.
The report by the Comptroller and Auditor General has also indicted former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for giving valuable land in Mumbai to a trust run by his family. The dental college that was meant to come up here has not materialised, and by failing to take back the land, the report says, the government has lost many crores. Mr Deshmukh is a union minister and one of the most senior leaders from Maharashtra for his party, the Congress.