Maharashtra revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat on Friday virtually gave a clean chit to tainted former Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president Kripashankar Singh regarding the amassing of illegal assets. The minister said Mr Singh had not cheated or committed any fraud in acquiring land at Rajapur taluka in Ratnagiri and hence there was no question of any inquiry against the Congressman.
MLAs from Ratnagiri and Raigad had raised the issue of 256 acres of land being under the name of Mr Singh’s wife and other relatives, and alleged that the land had been acquired fraudulently. It was further alleged that the Singhs own around 8,000 mango, cashew and coconut trees. The MLAs wanted to know whether the inquiry into Mr Singh’s property had yielded any results and if any action had been taken.
In reply, Mr Thorat said land in Wadapeth, Rajapur and Ratnagiri admeasuring 2,575 sq m had been legally purchased from the official owner by Mr Singh’s relatives. He also said that another plot of land admeasuring 1,592 sq m was also legally purchased by Mr Singh’s wife Malati and other relatives.
The minister told the House that the allegations that the plots of land were obtained by Mr Singh and his family fraudulently and by cheating the owners were not true. He added that since no illegality was committed, there was no need of an inquiry into the matter.
Mr Singh had resigned his post as the head of the MRCC after the Bombay high court asked the police to seize his property.