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Mumbai: The
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filed an FIR Thursday against realtor
Niranjan Hiranandini and Maharashtra's Additional Chief Secretary
T.C. Benjamin in a Rs.45,000 crore land scandal.
In an embarrassment for the state government, special judge V.A.
Daulatabadkar had on Tuesday asked ACB to lodge a first
information report (FIR) under Section 156 (3) of the Criminal
Procedure Code.
The order came after a complaint by activist Santosh Daundkara
against Benjamin, Hiranandani and other civic officials for
alleged involvement in the land scam that is worth Rs.45,000
crore.
Police officer-turned-lawyer, Y.P. Singh, and advocate Kiran
Bhalerao represented the petitioner.
Daundkara's lawyers said after the FIR was lodged that ACB would
be empowered to arrest the accused and carry out searches.
"The FIR specifies the quantum of fraud as Rs.30,000 crore.
However, as per current rates the value of the fraud is Rs.45,000
crore," Singh said.
"Hiranandani, a frequent visitor to the state secretariat, is
known for his proximity to senior politicians and high-level
bureaucrats. But for the co-operation of such people this massive
scam would never have happened," he added.
The complaint would be processed under various sections of the
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the Urban Land (Ceiling &
Regulation) Act, 1976, and the Maharashtra Regional and Town
Planning Act, 1966.
The complaint was originally lodged by Daundkar with the ACB on
June 30 2011. The agency, however, referred the matter to the
state government as it involved bureaucrats.
Daundkar alleged that a fraud was played on common people, and
provisions of public housing rules were flouted by the builder in
connivance with officials.
After the ACB failed to move in the matter, Daundkar lodged a
criminal complaint with the ACB special court in April this year.
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