Raj govt seeks opinion to withdraw graft case agst ex minister

The BJP government in Rajasthan has sought the opinion of the prosecutor on withdrawing a 16-year-old case relating to an alleged land scam in the state against a former minister from the party and 29 others.
Madan Dilawar, who has been a minister in the previous Vasundhara Raje government, and 29 others were in April 2000 booked under various sections including 420 and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC following an inquiry.
A letter seeking opinion on withdrawal of the case was received yesterday, said Ahasan Mohammad, Assistant Director Prosecution (ADP), ACB special court.
It is for the first time the government has sought opinion on withdrawing a case of corruption, Mohammad said, adding that "corruption cases are actually not withdrawn".

"It is very difficult and not possible to withdraw charges under section 420 and 120 (B) of IPC," he said, "but I would send my view to the government in next couple of days".
The accused allegedly fabricated documents for auctioning a government land under Atru Panchayat Samiti of Baran district in 1998.

As per ACB findings, Dilawar allegedly used his political clout to ensure that the plot was sold to people close to him at a very low rate, causing a revenue loss of Rs 17.25 lakh.
Those who allegedly benefited from the scam included the main accused Brijmohan Soni, ex-sarpanch of Atru, his family members and other members of the panchayat and their kins.

The ACB court on May 28 this year framed charges against Soni and three others.
The chargesheet against the 30 accused in the case was submitted to the ACB special court in February 2012.
The next hearing in the case would be held on August 24.