MSRDC MD relieved of post till graft probe ends: Fadnavis

Mumbai Aug 3 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said State Roads Development Corporation Managing Director Radheyshyam Mopalwar accused of corruption has been removed from his post till a probe against him is completed within a month.

"Mopalwar will not continue in his post till the probe is over " Fadnavis informed both houses of the state legislature which is construed a major victory for the opposition. He announced the probe would be completed within a month.

The Prime Minister s Office had sought a report from the state Chief Secretary with regard to alleged disproportionate assets amassed by Mopalwar the Maharashtra State Roads Development Corporation Managing Director and Vice Chairman.

The PMO s communication followed a letter by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Anil Gote who complained that Mopalwar had amassed assets worth over Rs 800 crore.

The 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer was in charge of Fadnavis pet showpiece projects including the Rs 46 000-crore Mumbai-Nagpur Super Communication Expressway.

Attempting to turn the tables on the opposition Fadnavis however asserted that the corruption allegations against Mopalwar pertained to his service during the previous Congress-NCP government which appointed him to the post.

"It was during your tenure that he was given a plum posting " Fadnavis said.

The developments come after the opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party pushed the BJP-Shiv Sena ruling combine into a corner over Mopalwar issue and demanded action against him.

The government climbdown came a day after BJP-SS legislators walked out of the legislative council on Wednesday after the Mopalwar issue raised political temperature as a video clip surfaced in which the officer was allegedly seen fixing a deal.

--IANS
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