CBI registers FIR against Vaghela for Mumbai land deal

CBI has registered an FIR against former Union Textile Minister Shankersinh Vaghela, a one-time rival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in state politics, and six others including ex-Chairman-cum-Managing Director of National Textile Corporation (NTC) on Wednesday in connection with a land scam in Mumbai.

“We have seized Rs 13.33 lakh cash from Vaghela’s residence and fixed deposit documents worth Rs 1. 65 <g data-gr-id="48">crore</g> and Rs 45 lakh from Pillai and Khare’s house. We have also seized their lockers and further investigation is on,” CBI sources said.

Speaking to  Millennium Post over <g data-gr-id="38">telephone</g>, Vaghela said, “I have done nothing wrong and the land was given to the private company as per NTC rules. I am willing to take this matter to court and will fight legally to prove my innocence.”

When asked why his name was dragged into the scam, he said, “This is <g data-gr-id="45">purely</g> political vendetta. The new government at the Centre is conspiring against me and I am confident that I will clear my name.”

However, he claimed that nothing has been seized from his residence and offices. “Kuch <g data-gr-id="34">nahi</g> <g data-gr-id="37">mila</g> <g data-gr-id="39">unko</g> (nothing has been seized). They are trying to harass me,” he said.

It is learnt that all of them were booked for selling a prime property in Mumbai allegedly at 

“throwaway prices” to Kamlesh Mehta, Director of a Kolkata based private company M/s Hall & Anderson Limited, resulting in a loss of Rs.709.27 crore (approx) to the national exchequer.

“They were booked under sections 120-B, 420 of IPC & 13(2) r/w 13(1) (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Besides Vaghela, former NTC CMD Ramachandran Pillai and its legal senior manager and technical director MK Khare and RK Sharma and others were booked for selling NTC land in Parel to the Kolkata based company,” CBI sources said.

It was alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and transferred the land at Mumbai owned by NTC to M/s Hall & Anderson Limited in a wrongful manner, for a total consideration of Rs. 29.35 crores (approx), whereas the actual value of the land was much higher.

Millennium Post is privy to information that on September 28, 2011, the Maharashtra Government had given the green signal (File No: SEAC 2010/CR.839/TC.2) to M/s Hall & Anderson Limited to develop a residential-cum-hotel project at Pandurang Budhkar Marg at Lower Parel (CS No. 1/445) in Mumbai.

“The total plot area was 27,38213 <g data-gr-id="51">sq</g>. m. The estimated project cost was pegged at Rs153 crore. There are allegations that the builders struck a deal with the former minister and senior NTC employees, while allotting the prime property to Mehta, the owner of the company. We are suspecting involvement of senior <g data-gr-id="54">officials i</g>n the environment ministry and adequate action will be taken,” sources said.