Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan alleged that the BJP was putting "political pressure" on the CBI to take action against him. (Press Trust of India photo)
Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan today alleged that BJP's "vindictive attitude" was behind the Governor's grant of sanction for prosecuting him in the Adarsh scam case.
"The grant of sanction for prosecution and the CBI's decision to move the application has been done at the behest of the BJP," he said.
His reactions came after Governor C Vidyasagar Rao today gave sanction to CBI to prosecute the Congress leader in the Adarsh scam case, days after the BJP-led government in the state recommended action against him.
Mr Chavan sought to know how could the opinion of a new Governor change with a new government in power in the state.
"The (Justice Patil) committee's report is absolutely clear that there was no reservation for land for any Army personnel and the land belonged to the state government. This is just a vindictive attitude of the BJP," Mr Chavan told PTI.
"Once the Governor has taken a conscious stand after consulting the highest legal authority in the country, and then issued orders saying he cannot sanction prosecution, if the Governor changes and the government changes, does it mean that the opinion also changes?" he questioned.
CBI had alleged that Mr Chavan suggested inclusion of civilian members in Adarsh Housing Society, meant for war veterans and widows of defence personnel, to secure flats for his relatives in the plush complex situated at Colaba in south Mumbai.
In December 2013, the then Governor K Sankaranarayanan had refused sanction to CBI to prosecute Mr Chavan in the Adarsh housing scam, leaving the agency with no choice but to close the case against him.
Mr Chavan alleged that the BJP was putting "political pressure" on the CBI to take action against him at the behest of some members of the party.
"Is BJP MP Kirit Somaiya a part of the government that it endorses his application and the entire process starts? You can see the political interference of the BJP functionaries in the whole process. Why was this issue raked up for the second time? Because of BJP functionaries and their political vendetta behind the issue," he said.
"The grant of sanction for prosecution and the CBI's decision to move the application in the first place is on the insistence and pressure from the BJP," the Lok Sabha member from Nanded said.