Denouncing Maharashtra government's attempt to reinstate public prosecutors who were dismissed in the multi-crore Jalgaon housing scam case, a civil rights organisation has said that the move has raised serious doubts in the minds of people.
"We are pained and concerned by media reports that due to lobbying by vested interest groups, the home ministry may be contemplating to reinstate already dismissed public prosecutors in the Jalgaon housing case," Citizens' Forum for Civil Rights said in a letter to the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
"We, as members of the Citizens' Forum for Civil Rights, strongly condemn any such move. We understand the state government's decision to replace two special public prosecutors has been taken on the basis of strictures passed against them by the Bombay High Court (in its recent order)," the organisation said.
"We reiterate that the government's decision to replace the prosecutors is just and fair. It should not yield to any threats or pressure from vested interests, since this is the expectation of law abiding citizens. The Forum has the highest regard for the judicial system and government administration," the letter said.
A total of 38 persons, including Maharashtra former housing minister and Shiv Sena MLA Sureshdada Jain were arrested for their alleged roles in the housing scam.
According to a chargesheet filed in court, the case pertains to construction of 11,000 low cost houses in Jalgaon for which a tender was floated by Jalgaon Municipal Council in 1997, to provide nine plots for the project.
However, over a period of time, it was found that the conditions to file the tenders were altered to ensure that Khandesh Builders secured the contract.
It was also found that though nine plots were promised for the low cost housing project, five plots did not belong to the Jalgaon Municipal Council, while the rest of the four plots were reserved for a school, public gardens or hospitals.
