Mumbai: Dogged by several allegations of graft against him, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse on Saturday resigned from his post. The BJP leader handed over resignation to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after meeting him at his official residence in 'Varsha' in the city today morning.
Khadse resigned from all his ministerial portfolios after he simultaneously got embroiled in multiple controversies.
We take a look at the allegations and controversies that surrounded Khadse, once the senior most minister in Fadnavis' Cabinet.
Controversy around land deal:
A Pune-based realtor, Hemant Gavande made serious charges of land grabbing against Khadse. According to Gavande, Khadse had misused his position as the state revenue minister to illegally execute sales deeds for a three-acre industrial plot at Bhosari in Pune district in the name of his wife and son-in-law. Gavande accused the minister of grabbing the industrial plot of MIDC at a very low price of around Rs 3.75 crore misusing his position when the market value of the land was to the tune of Rs 40 crore.
Alleged link with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim:
Apart from the doubtful real estate transaction, Khadse came under the scanner after his mobile number reportedly appeared in the call records of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim. Though, Khadse accepted that the telephone number in question was indeed registered in his name, he denied speaking to Dawood or any of his family members.
Khadse's aide arrested for seeking Rs 30 crore bribe over a land deal
Khadse was mired with another controversy after the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested his aide Gajanan Patil over bribery charges in a land deal. According to reports, Patil was arrested for allegedly seeking Rs 30 crore as bribe over a land deal from economist Ramesh Jadhav.
Khadse's son-in-law arrested for driving illegally
The BJP leader was in news when Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested his son-in-law in March 2016 for allegedly possessing a modified limousine. Khadse's son-in-law Manish Khevalkar owned a Hyundai Sonata, registered with Jalgaon RTO, which was converted into a limousine.
As per the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Act Section 52, modification into a limousine is not permitted. Khevalkar, was accused of modifying the car without seeking permission from the RTO.
