Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday accepted the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) proposal to conduct an 'open inquiry' against former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and state NCP president Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal in an alleged corruption case.

However, Ajit Pawar avoided commenting on the Devendra Fadnavis-led government’s decision to order an inquiry against him in connection with the irrigation scam, saying the latter is free to do whatever it wants.

“It’s their government and they are free to do what they want. They had said the same before the elections and now they are doing it,” Pawar told the media here while responding to reports that the Maharashtra Government has given a green signal to an inquiry against him by the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the irrigation scam.

The state's Anti-Corruption Bureau has been asked to institute 'open inquiries' against Pawar and state NCP president Sunil Tatkare in connection with alleged corruption and irregularities in execution of various irrigation projects during their tenure as Water Resource Ministers.

The Chief Minister also gave his approval to ACB's proposal to conduct an open inquiry into allegations of corruption and favouritism against former Public Works Department Minister Chhagan Bhujbal in construction of Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi and two other government buildings in Mumbai built under Private Public Partnership.

The government has also ordered probe against irrigation department officials and contractors responsible for alleged irregularities.

"I have been authorised by Chief Minister of Maharashtra to state that he has cleared open inquiries by ACB against Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal," Advocate General Sunil Manohar told the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court.

On August 23, the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had sought permission from the state government to conduct an open inquiry against former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and state Nationalist Congress Party chief Sunil Tatkare following a complaint by social activist Pravin Wategaonkar, who has alleged corruption in 12 irrigation projects.

On November 2, when asked about whether he would allow the anti-corruption bureau to conduct inquiry against Pawar and Tatkare, Fadnavis had said, "There is no need for discretion (for initiating a probe) for corruption cases. When you find certain prima facie evidence, why should you stop?"

Maharashtra government had in June tabled in the state assembly the report of Madhav Chitale committee which had gone into alleged scam in execution of irrigations projects. The panel too had highlighted such irregularities.

(with agency inputs)