Mumbai:
Arvind Kejriwal has concealed information about a massive scam in Maharashtra because he is selective about which politicians he targets - that's the allegation made today by YP Singh, a former senior police officer who now works as an activist. He also alleged that union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar helped in illegally acquiring land for Lavasa in Maharashtra and his family and friends benefitted from this alleged scam.
Here are the highlights of what he said in his press conference:
- He was in the investigation with me; he had the facts but did not bring it in front of the media. The details of the larger irrigation scam were not brought out.
- It is my duty, that it is important to put this in front of the media when such a big politician was involved. Kejriwal had the information/material to expose him. He didn't do it.
- Do not believe me. Scrutinize the evidence that I place before you. Sharad Pawar is such a big political figure - you can then decide whether he has the right to continue as a union minister after that.
- Kejriwal's point that farmers' land that was acquired should be returned to farmers, is against Supreme Court guidelines. The top court says there should be a public auction of such land.
- In Lavasa, Ajit Pawar granted 341 acres to Lake City Corp on 30 years lease at just Rs 23,000 per month. In Mumbai, the smallest one bedroom house is not available for that price.
- 20.81% shares belonged to Supriya Sule and Sadanand Sule. Supriya Sule is Ajit Pawar's cousin. Supriya Sule had at least 10.4% share in Lake City Corp. Ajit Pawar gave the land to this company virtually free. In 2006, Sule and her husband sold shareholding - but at what cost?
- In June 2008, Axis Bank valued the shares at 10,000 crore. When Supriya Sule sold the shares the company should have been valued at least at 5000 crore. But Supriya Sule declared her assets to be worth 15 crore. According to that she sold her Lavasa shares for 5 crore. But according to the Axis Bank valuation, she would have got Rs 500 crore at least.
- The whistle blower revenue officer, Ramesh Kumar, was victimised for exposing the irregularities in this scam.
- Sharad Pawar is a Union Agriculture Minister - he has nothing to do with land-related matters in Maharashtra. But he interfered in that.
- In 2006, Lavasa sought some concessions and that was rejected. Global Floor Space Index (FSI) including lakes, mountains was taken into account so that the height of the building could be raised.
- Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit, who was then the irrigation minister, met the then CM and senior IAS officers in a guest house in Lavasa called Ekant and decided to give Lavasa a global floating FSI. We have the detailed minutes of meeting that has been attached.
- Did Kejriwal know these details? I think he did. The main point quid-pro-quo was not highlighted. We don't know whether there was money laundering. But in 20 April, 2009, we had made a report - and Kejriwal was a part of that team. I was hoping we will expose that scam. But when I saw the small matter of Mr Gadkari, and that too on a wrong legal point, it is for you to compare what he exposed and what I have presented today.
- How did Sharad Pawar hold a meeting with Maharashtra officials in the Lavasa guest house? He was Union Agriculture Minister; what jurisdiction did he have? How was a government meeting held in a private guest house? There are many such questions; there needs to be an FIR, that should be followed by an investigation and a court case. We will ensure an FIR is filed under the jurisdiction of Anti-Corruption Bureau Maharashtra.
- We are not like Mr Kejriwal that we will be silent after allegations. I had sent them a legal notice. I will pursue the corruption related case now. I will not blame Kerjriwal, but the case against Gadkari that he has sensationalised, I feel, he would have seen the political equation in Delhi. I am a lawyer; Kejriwal is my client. A lawyer doesn't go to a client, so I cannot go to him.
- If Kejriwal had said that he will be forming a political party, I would have never done the documentation. Anna Hazare vehemently took up the case of Lavasa, but later remained silent. I had given him details on Lavasa but don't know why he had a soft corner for Sharad Pawar.
- I do not know why Kejriwal is not going to court. You cannot do politics like this. They don't see the larger problems. In Germany, Hitler had said the country was collapsing and had come to power. Our biggest problem is population, not corruption.