This Article is From Apr 06, 2012

More trust trouble for senior Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal

More trust trouble for senior Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal
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 has complained that two floors are being misused- one as a showroom, the other as a residence. The Charity Commissioner has ordered an inspection of the building tomorrow. He has also said that the trust needs to ensure that all floors are used its official purpose of promoting education.

Last year, an official inspection confirmed that the land allotted to the 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.  

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