Governor gives nod for Solanki’s Prosecution
/ 0
- Current News
- Tuesday, 31 July 2012 04:31
- Published on Tuesday, 31 July 2012 14:31
- Hits: 793
Gujarat Global News Network, Ahmedabad
Gujarat governor Dr Kamla Beniwal has given her assent for the prosecution of minister of state for fisheries, Parshottam Solanki. The Governor has given the permission for prosecution of minister under the Prevention of Corruption Act, in an alleged Rs 400 Crore fishing contracts scam.
The decision of the Governor was communicated to the Gujarat HC which was hearing a contempt plea against the council of ministers. Sanction for Solanki’s prosecution opens the door for the petitioner, Ishaaq Maradia, to approach either the police or the competent court. Mukul Sinha, lawyer for the petitioner, Ishaaq Maradia, said, “Now, we are mulling which forum to approach for filing the complaint — the police or a special corruption court.”
Taking a contradictory stand to that taken by the council of ministers, the Governor took into account file noting made by bureaucrats in 2008. She also considered an earlier observation of the division bench of high court which had said that fishing contract orders were passed for extraneous reasons, to give undue favour to certain parties.
But what actually sealed the Governor’s decision was file markings of finance secretary, GB Shah and chief secretary D Rajagopalan made in July 2008. It was revealed that the file nothings were made before the contract was actually awarded but the decision to give the contract had already been taken.
It is not just Solanki who will face heat in the coming days. In her observations, the Governor has also mentioned the name of another minister in the Modi cabinet according to Mukul Sinha. According to him, there was another noting by an officer that cabinet minister Dileep Sanghani had through a telephone order directed that the contracts be given immediately.
For News in Hindi, see our Hindi daily Chaupal Chronicle
