Kirit Somaiya on Friday demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh over the permission given to DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan, accused of financial fraud, to travel despite the ongoing lockdown. He said the government's action against Amitabh Gupta, Principal Secretary (special) in the home department, who has been sent on compulsory leave following the incident, was mere "window dressing".
In a current state when the country is fighting against the spread of Covid 19 cases, and officials are already pressed for time, promoters of Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) were found violating lockdown norms for vacationing in their farmhouse.
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The DHFL promoter Kapil Wadhawan has landed himself in another trouble after he was recently granted bail for allegedly laundering money to buy the properties of Iqbal Mirchi, late aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court had in February granted bail to Kapil Wadhawan. Apart from Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan promoters of DHFL, 21 other family member were detained after they were found violating section 144.
According to local police officials, the Wadhawan family along with others travelled from Khandala to Mahabaleshwar on Wednesday evening in their cars, even when both Pune and Satara districts are sealed amid the ongoing lockdown for containing coronavirus.
Principal secretary sent on compulsory leave
As the information on detention came, Maharashtra principal sectary (home) Amitabh Gupta was immediately sent on leave with the state government probing the letter allegedly given to Wadhawans which aided their travel from Khandala to Mahabaleshwar.
BJP leaders hit out at state govt:
Several BJP leaders have taken to social media criticising the Maharashtra government for facilitating the travel of the Wadhawan family. Ram Kadam, a BJP leader, said on twitter, “Maharasthra govt should disclose that big politician under whose direction Amitabh Gupta allowed Wadhawan family to travel to Mahabaleshwar.”
Another leader from BJP lashed at the state government demanding resignation of the home minister. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said, “The home secretary has given them a VIP pass and they have gone in a convoy from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar. We want to know on whose instruction home minister Anil Deshmukh ask Amitabh Gupta to provide VVIP treatment to Wadhawan brothers. Just sending Mr Gupta on leave is nothing, we want resignation of Anil Deshmukh.”
Even former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was not behind when it came to criticising the state government, “No lockdowns for mighty and rich in Maharashtra? One can spend holidays in Mahabaleshwar with official permission from police. It is not possible that a senior IPS officer would do such gross mistake knowing the consequences on his own. With whose order or blessings was this done? Mr CM and HM, you owe us an explanation,” Fadnavis spoke on Twitter.
Sambit Patra, BJP leader also posted a tweet to express his criticism against the issue.
In fact, promoters of DHFL are currently under two different investigation by ED one related to at least ₹14,000 crore of fund diversion from DHFL using fake borrowers and another case pertaining to alleged kickbacks taken by Yes Bank promoters in view of granting loan to them.