The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has given a clean chit to former Water Resources Development Minister Ajit Pawar in the investigation of cases of alleged corruption in irrigation projects in the state.



The NCP leader has been cleared of all allegations in the Vidarbha irrigation scam by the Maharashtra ACB, according to an affidavit submitted before the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on November 27.

The affidavit was filed just a day before the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government (Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress) was sworn in the state on November 28.

Earlier, it was reported that Ajit Pawar got a clean chit in the irrigation days after he ditched his uncle, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, and joined hands with BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Ajit Pawar, chairman of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC), cannot be held responsible for acts of the executing agencies as there is no legal duty on his part, the affidavit stated.

A few years ago, former ACB chief and incumbent Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Barve had filed an affidavit in the court which said that in the Gosikhurd and Jigaon projects, Ajit Pawar had signed extension of tenders himself. However, the latest affidavit stated that due process of filling through the VIDC was followed. Hence, Sanjay Barve's observations were rejected.

The new affidavit said, "As regards grant of sanction to the liability of the tender cost including that of updated cost, it is revealed during the course of enquiry/investigation that: Only note-sheets for grant of liability of the tender cost were sent to the chairman of the corporation by the executive director of the VIDC."

"In most of the cases the executive director of the VIDC has accorded permission to the updated cost of the tender work, being within 5per cent of updated tender cost, as he is empowered to accept the tender up to 5 per cent above the costs," it said.

"The proposals for acceptance of the liability for the entire tender cost were being submitted to the chairman with the recommendation of the executive director. In some cases the recommendations were also given by the principal secretary of the water resources department who is ex-officio managing director of the corporation," it added.

"But neither the executive director nor the managing director, have ever given negative remarks on note-sheets for the same. There is no evidence on record to say that the secretary of the department had briefed the Minister of Water Resources Department about not accepting the liability of the tender work," the affidavit further stated.

The irrigation scam dates back to the time Ajit Pawar was the irrigation minister of Maharashtra in a Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government. Ajit Pawar was alleged to be at the helm of irregularities in projects awarded by his ministry. The allegations included claims that Ajit Pawar awarded projects at inflated prices.