The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday intensified its attack on Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse, alleging there was "black money" involved in the purchase of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) land near Pune.
"The way MIDC's land worth Rs. 23 crores was bought for just Rs. 3 crores, the black money was used in it and it clearly indicates that there is a case of conflict of interest," NCP leader Nawab Malik told ANI.
"There are serious allegations against Khadse, including his conversation with Dawood Ibrahim (Mumbai underworld fugitive) from Karachi," he added.
Malik said when there are grave allegations against Khadse, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should remove him from his post.
"But the BJP and Chief Minister Fadnavis and several others are trying to defend the Revenue Minister at a time when there are several cases registered against him," he added.
The NCP leader's reactions came after there were media reports that Chief Minister Fadnavis had summoned the Revenue Minister.
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A delegation of Congress ministers also met the Maharashtra Governor and demanded the Khadse's resignation over the land deal and his involvement in calls made to gangster Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan.
However, Khadse had denied changing reservation of the MIDC plot at Bhosari, as acquisition process was in progress.
The Aam Aadmi Party had recently demanded Khadse's ouster, alleging that calls were made from Dawood's residence in Karachi to his mobile phone, a charge the minister rubbished as "baseless" saying the phone number was not in use for last one year.