File photo: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar
Reacting to the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau's request to the government for sanction to initiate an 'open inquiry' against deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and former minister Sunil Tatkare, the Nationalist Congress Party today said it was an attempt to defame the party and its leaders.
The ACB had sought permission for an open inquiry against Mr Pawar and Mr Tatkare, both senior NCP leaders, over a complaint by activist Pravin Wategaonkar, who has alleged corruption in 12 irrigation projects in Maharashtra in the last decade.
"There is a conspiracy to defame NCP and its leaders," said party spokesperson Nawab Malik.
"Wategaonkar had submitted all the documents to the (Dr Madhav Chitale) committee but a clean chit was given," Mr Malik said.
"He had also filed a PIL in the High Court but it was dismissed....ACB, as a part of its routine process, conducts such inquiries as per rules," he said.
"For the last three years, attempts are being made to malign the image of NCP and its leaders," Mr Malik said.
Mr Wategaonkar has alleged that more than three contracts were awarded to the companies belonging to a particular group over the past decade, in violation of the rule that prescribes awarding of maximum of three contracts to a single contractor or a joint venture company.
He has also alleged that Mr Pawar and Mr Tatkare, during their respective stints as water resources minister, allegedly favoured this group.