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Reference to Thackeray sends council into a tizzy

The Maharashtra legislative council today witnessed uproarious scenes over the opposition's demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into Social Welfare Minister Babanrao Gholap for his alleged corruption.

There were heated exchanges between Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and leader of opposition Chhagan Bhujbal, when the latter alleged during question hour that Gholap was being protected by Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

Chairman N S Pharande, unable to conduct the proceedings due to slogan-shouting from both sides, adjourned the house briefly to cool down tempers.

The origin of the clash was a question by Vyankappa Patki (Janata Dal) and eight others over the huge investment of funds of three backward class development corporations headed by Gholap in a private bank declared bankrupt by the Reserve Bank of India.

Minister of State for Social Welfare Vijay Girkar admitted that Mahatma Phule Magasvargiya Vikas Mahamandal , Vasantrao Naik Vimukta Jaati Va Bhatakya Jamati Vikas Mahamandal and Annabhau Sathe Magasvargiya Vikas Mahamandal had together deposited Rs 45 million in Bombay's Awami Mercantile Bank. Gholap was chairman of the three corporations. When the matter came to light in August this year, the government suspended managing directors of the corporations -- Lahu Kanade and Haribhau Kedare -- and handed over the matter to the police for investigations.

He said Kedare was managing director of the latter two corporations.

Girkar denied that Gholap had given instructions for depositing the amount in the bank .

Bhujbal immediately got up and started reading out an affidavit reportedly filed before the police by broker Vijay Mehta, saying that Gholap had obliged him (Mehta) in securing huge deposits for these corporations and that the "deal" was conducted with the knowledge of the occupant of 'Matoshri', ie, Sena chief Bal Thackeray .

The mere mention of Thackeray's name enraged the Sena members who left their seats and started shouting and gesticulating at Bhujbal. Congress and other opposition members responded in the same manner.

It was now the turn of the Congress members to unfurl a banner in the house. It read that Gholap swindled the funds meant for the upliftment of the backward classes and Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde dare not arrest him. Patki said it was a fit case for CBI inquiry.

The opposition members then entered the well of the house for the first time in the current session, to press for Gholap's arrest and for the institution of a CBI inquiry against him.

Joshi rejected the demands, saying that action against Gholap would not be taken merely on the basis of an affidavit by filed someone. "It could be false. If the police found evidence of Gholap's involvement in the transaction, the government would take immediate action," he said.

UNI

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