MSRDC MD relieved of post till graft probe ends: Fadnavis

Mumbai, Aug 3 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said State Roads Development Corporation Managing Director Radheyshyam Mopalwar, accused of corruption, has been removed from his post till a probe against him is completed within a month.

"Mopalwar will not continue in his post till the probe is over," Fadnavis informed both houses of the state legislature, which is construed a major victory for the opposition. He announced the probe would be completed within a month.

The Prime Minister's Office had sought a report from the state Chief Secretary with regard to alleged disproportionate assets amassed by Mopalwar, the Maharashtra State Roads Development Corporation Managing Director and Vice Chairman.

The PMO's communication followed a letter by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Anil Gote, who complained that Mopalwar had amassed assets worth over Rs 800 crore.

The 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer was in charge of Fadnavis' pet showpiece projects, including the Rs 46,000-crore Mumbai-Nagpur Super Communication Expressway.

Attempting to turn the tables on the opposition, Fadnavis, however, asserted that the corruption allegations against Mopalwar pertained to his service during the previous Congress-NCP government which appointed him to the post.

"It was during your tenure that he was given a plum posting," Fadnavis said.

The developments come after the opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party pushed the BJP-Shiv Sena ruling combine into a corner over Mopalwar issue and demanded action against him.

The government climbdown came a day after BJP-SS legislators walked out of the legislative council on Wednesday after the Mopalwar issue raised political temperature as a video clip surfaced in which the officer was allegedly seen fixing a deal.