Mehta denies issuing clarification on 'graft allegations'

Maharashtra Housing Minister Prakash Mehta, facing an inquiry over an alleged irregularity in a slum rehabilitation project, today demanded a probe into a "clarification" issued on his behalf by unidentified persons in connection with the matter.

"A clarification was issued in my name over an issue that was presented in the legislature," Mehta said in his letter addressed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

He was referring to "allegations of graft" being levelled against him over sanctioning unauthorised transfer of extra building rights in the slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) project in south Mumbai, originally granted to slum dwellers, to project affected people (PAPs), apparently to favour a developer.
 

Mehta said he was aware that he cannot issue any "clarification" as the matter raised against him is sensitive in nature and that the legislature is in session.

"Neither me, nor my department issued any clarification. There has been no communication from my office in Ghatkopar as well. Thus, it needs to be probed who, why and under whose influence issued the clarification on my behalf and sent to the media via email, WhatsApp," he stated in his letter, a copy of which was forwarded to Mumbai Police Commissioner as well.

The minister, who belongs to the BJP, demanded a strict action against those responsible for "tarnishing his image".

Opposition members today created a ruckus in both Houses of legislature demanding Mehta's resignation on the issue.

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan told the Assembly that Mehta had issued a press statement in which he has blamed his Cabinet colleagues on the matter.

The chief minister recently ordered a probe against Mehta for allegedly allowing unauthorised transfer of extra building rights in the slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) project in south Mumbai, originally granted to slum dwellers, to project affected people (PAPs), apparently to favour a developer.

While sanctioning the changes, Mehta had wrongly mentioned in the project file that he had kept the chief minister in the loop, which was denied by Fadnavis.