The Maharashtra Legislative Council Tuesday witnessed sloganeering and ruckus after opposition members protested Minister of State for Dairy Development Arjun Khotkar's attempt to defend a cooperative society affiliated to Cooperation Minister Subhash Deshmukh from corruption allegations.
Leader of Opposition and senior NCP leader Dhananjay Munde had alleged corruption in the Lokmangal Multi-state Cooperative Society Limited controlled by Deshmukh.
Munde alleged that Deshmukh's son had floated a separate unit called Lokmangal Products Society which got a grant of Rs 24 crore from the state government for a project.
Munde claimed Lokmangal Products then transferred the project to Lokmangal Multi-State Cooperative Society Limited controlled by Deshmukh.
Without naming Deshmukh, Munde said, "The government is trying to protect a minister in the state cabinet who is connected to the society."
Replying to questions on the issue, Khotkar said, "An inquiry has been ordered and its report is yet to be received. A police case has been already been lodged and a probe is underway."