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The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday backed its Mumbai president Raj Purohit after his name came up in a land scam and said there was no question of his resignation from the post or party.
On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court directed the CBI to file FIRs against Mr. Purohit, a former Minister of State for Urban Development in the Shiv Sena-BJP government, and other revenue officers.
Welcoming the CBI probe into the scam, BJP State president Eknath Khadse told journalists that Mr. Purohit, when he was Minister, could not have passed any orders as alleged by the State.
“No Minister ever signed orders issued by the State government,” Mr. Khadse clarified. “If Mr. Purohit is guilty, investigate the case and punish him; but if there is no proof, then he has to be cleared.”
Mr. Purohit's name figured in a scam in Pune, allegedly in violation of the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act (ULCRA). It will now be investigated by the CBI instead of the CID.
A Division Bench of the court issued the order based on a report submitted by former IAS officer Sudhakar Joshi, who was appointed to probe the scam by the government in 2009. A copy of the report is with the court.
Mr. Khadse said Mr. Purohit could seek relief from the Supreme Court since he was not summoned by the Joshi Committee to explain his stand.
He added that the principles of natural justice were denied to Mr. Purohit and he could approach the Supreme Court.
Mr. Khadse alleged that Mr. Purohit's name was being dragged into the case to divert attention from the real culprits, and that the government was shielding an officer close to the State Home Minister and a former Deputy Chief Minister.
Mr. Khadse said he and BJP leader Gopinath Munde had raised the land scam in the legislature in 2007 and 2008, and there was no mention then of Mr. Purohit.
The High Court, while hearing the public interest litigation filed by BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari, stated that the land scam was bigger than the 2G spectrum scandal.
On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court directed the CBI to file FIRs against Mr. Purohit, a former Minister of State for Urban Development in the Shiv Sena-BJP government, and other revenue officers.
Welcoming the CBI probe into the scam, BJP State president Eknath Khadse told journalists that Mr. Purohit, when he was Minister, could not have passed any orders as alleged by the State.
“No Minister ever signed orders issued by the State government,” Mr. Khadse clarified. “If Mr. Purohit is guilty, investigate the case and punish him; but if there is no proof, then he has to be cleared.”
Mr. Purohit's name figured in a scam in Pune, allegedly in violation of the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act (ULCRA). It will now be investigated by the CBI instead of the CID.
A Division Bench of the court issued the order based on a report submitted by former IAS officer Sudhakar Joshi, who was appointed to probe the scam by the government in 2009. A copy of the report is with the court.
Mr. Khadse said Mr. Purohit could seek relief from the Supreme Court since he was not summoned by the Joshi Committee to explain his stand.
He added that the principles of natural justice were denied to Mr. Purohit and he could approach the Supreme Court.
Mr. Khadse alleged that Mr. Purohit's name was being dragged into the case to divert attention from the real culprits, and that the government was shielding an officer close to the State Home Minister and a former Deputy Chief Minister.
Mr. Khadse said he and BJP leader Gopinath Munde had raised the land scam in the legislature in 2007 and 2008, and there was no mention then of Mr. Purohit.
The High Court, while hearing the public interest litigation filed by BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari, stated that the land scam was bigger than the 2G spectrum scandal.