Even as dust on the controversial land deal involving former Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse is yet to settle down, a Maharashtra minister alleged that a senior IPS officer’s son was among four persons who purchased the state Industries Development Corporation (MIDC)-owned land in Pune district in a “fraudulent manner”.
The IPS officer in question Dhananjay Kamlakar, currently posted as Joint Commissioner of Police, Economic Offences Wing (EOW), has been transferred to Coastal Security. He will be replaced by Praveen Salunkhe.
Senior Shiv Sena leader and state Industries Minister Subhash Desai said at Mantralaya that MIDC has been “cheated” as its land at Ranjangaon village was “grabbed fraudulently”.
He claimed the land was purchased by Bhujangrao Ogle, Rohit Kamalakar, Rangnath Walke and Prashant Ogle in a “fraudulent manner”.
Rohit is the son of Dhananjay Kamalakar.
Meanwhile, repeated calls made to Dhananjay Kamalakar remained unanswerable. The text messages sent to him also yielded no response.
Desai told reporters that he has asked officials of his department to conduct a probe into the fraudulent purchase, and assured strict action against the guilty.
The minister said the 7.64-hectare land in question has been owned by MIDC after its original owners Shivajirao Navale and Arun Navale sold the land on October 20, 1992.
Desai further said the Navales were paid the compensation of Rs 1.81 lakh. “Since 1992, the said land is in possession of the MIDC,” he said.
Its market value is said to be in several crores.
“Later, some people asked the MIDC for a No Objection Certificate allowing the purchase of the land. However, the MIDC did not allow it, filed an FIR and lodged a case with a court in Pune,” he said.
Desai said a Common Effluent Treatment plant was constructed on the land, which is in operation.
