Reciprocating the allegation by Kirit Somaiya, Nawab Malik has declared him as the ‘item girl’ of politics.
He also alleged that the duo had withdrawn 800 crore rupees from Union Bank for bribing F.A . construction officials. Somaiya mentioned that in order to conceal information they also had prepared bogus bills. The construction cost of the Kondhane dam had increased on account of misappropriation of funds. Thus the letter written by Kirit Somaiya has invited further trouble for Pawar and Tatkare.
Aam Aadmi Party leader, Anjali Damania who had earlier alleged that Nitin Gadkari tried to prevent Kirit Somaiya from filing a public interest litigation in the Bombay high court in the multi-thousand crore irrigation scam has demanded the list of all 308 companies from Somaiya. She tweeted, “Mr @KiritSomaiya? Who owns the cos? Give all the details to the media? Why release partial list? Give list of all 308 cos.”
“Let’s keep aside who exposed. Just one question @KiritSomaiya. Did ACB leak the figures and findings to you? Is ACB working to promote BJP?” How did you know that 800 cr cash was withdrawn by FA from Union Bank? Did you get it by RTI? Or ACB? Trying to take credit?.”
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “Kirit Somaiya is the item girl of politics. Somaiya should call for a probe into the irrigation scam to know the truth. If charges are proved against the accused then action should be taken against them. After all he is a part of the ruling BJP government.”
This was the first time a member of the Pawar family was grilled by an anti-corruption agency in Maharashtra. Sources said that Pawar was quizzed on various aspects of the cost-escalation of the irrigation project. The scam, initially pegged at Rs 70,000 crore, had thrown up names of several ministers and senior officials. It was unearthed after whistleblower Vijay Pandhare joined hands with Aam Aadmi Party leader Anjali Damania to get details under RTI, which stated contracts were scaled up several times with allegations of not even 0.1 percent work being completed.