Politics in the Raigad district has started having implications across the state, as allegations of land grabbing against NCP minister Sunil Tatkare are growing strong. The minister on his part continues to deny the claims saying that he will sue people making wanton, politically motivated allegations against him.
Peasants’ and Workers’ Party MLC Jayant Patil on Thursday alleged that more than 190 fake companies have been set up by Mr Tatkare’s son, daughter, daughter-in-law, for grabbing hundreds of acres of land in the Raigad district and elsewhere.
Mr Patil said, “We have made complaints with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, but he has not taken any action so far,” he said, adding, “Is the CM under any compulsion, or any restraint from his party’s alliance partners? I will withdraw all my allegation if he proves me wrong.”
Mr Patil further pointed out that Mr Tatkare’s son Aniket and daughter Aditi have 25 and nine companies respectively, while his daughter-in-law Vedanti has 13 companies.
Reacting to Mr Patil’s allegation, Mr Tatkare said, “I condemn these allegations. My son has been running his business since 2003, my daughter is 19 years old and is independent. I will take legal advice and file for court action.”
“Mr Tatkare has misused his position as a cabinet minister to form these companies in the names of his daughter, son, servants, etc. The process of forming a company normally takes two years, but in this case, several companies were formed in just one day,” Mr Patil said. A total of 699 acres of land in Dapoli was acquired for these fake companies.
He added that Kiran Sarange, son of Mr Tatkare’s gardener was the owner of nine companies when he was just 19 years old. His father Keshav Sarange and Kiran himself have two ration cards and two voter identity cards.