Maha govt to hand over Khadse land case to ACB

The Anti-Corruption Bureau would probe the land deal case against BJP leader Eknath Khadse and register an FIR against the accused, Maharashtra government on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court which said the investigation should be carried out "expeditiously and independently".

The government's decision to transfer the probe to ACB comes after the high court had during earlier hearings expressed displeasure over the manner in which the local police was handling the investigation. The division bench of Justices R V More and Revati Mohite Dere on Wednesday were informed that the Pune police would not be able to probe the case falling under Prevention of Corruption Act.

"The investigation into the case against Khadse and his family members will be transferred to ACB. An FIR will be lodged against the accused persons," Pradhan said.

The high court had earlier said that if the government was not willing to transfer probe to ACB then it would pass appropriate orders.

The petitioner Hemant Gavande alleged that Khadse, during his tenure as revenue minister, purchased a three-acre plot at Bhosari in Pune owned by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in the name of his kin for Rs 3.75 crore.