Mumbai: Kaun Banega Karodpati is a game show on television which allows commoners to become a Karodpati by answering GK questions. But in the current political scenario, one need not be good in GK but one should be in power, it looks like. If the reports are to be believed there seems to hundreds of crores being made by the corrupt politicians. The present political situation in Maharashtra is dicey to say the least. Ever since the three party Maha Vikas Aaghadi government has come to power, there has been setbacks after setbacks. First ShivSena angered Bharitya Janata Party by forming a government with the help of Rashtravadi Congress and Congress. Soon after the Corona pandemic hit the world. Obviously the State Government had to cough up money for medical and other assistance. Soon after a popular star Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in mysterious conditions and the people in the government and police force were blamed for it. Then there was a fake TRP case where one of the leading television channels editor in chief was arrested in a closed case of Alibaug businessman Anvay Naik’s suicide case because allegedly the anchor was asking tough and leading questions to the people in power. And now the Sachin Vaze case wherein he has been arrested for an alleged murder of a businessman Mansukh Hirani and for planting explosive-laden sports utility vehicle near RIL Chairperson Mukesh Ambani’s residence, Antilia.
Now the above case has embroiled many from the ruling government as well as top officers of police department. As claimed by the investing agencies, API Sachin Vaze is the link between too many things and people. Vaze, popularly known as an ‘encounter specialist’, was suspended in 2004 for murdering Khwaja Yunus, an accused in Dec. 2002 Ghatkopar blast case. He was reinstated in June 2020, during the pandemic forced lockdown, and was made in-change of prestigious CIU, Criminal Intelligence Unit. Since then Vaze was entrusted with most important cases despite other able officers present in the said unit or police force. The moment Sachin Vaze was arrested, the Commissioner of Police Shri Param Bir Singh was shunted out, on promotion of course, as Director General of Maharashtra Home Guard. Soon after his removal as CP of Mumbai Param Bir Singh sent an eight page letter to Hon Chief Minister of Maharashtra accusing the then Home Minister Anil Deshmukh demanding Rs 100 Crores per month from Mr Vaze.
This ‘‘LetterBomb’’ caused political earthquake and the main opposition party started gunning for the MVA ministers. The Hon High Court handed over the said probe to CBI which compelled Mr Anil Deshmukh to resign from his post of Home Minister.
Now comes another twist to the ongoing ‘VasuliKand’ as it’s referred by many. Sachin Vaze who’s is the custody of NIA, National Investing Agency, has thrown another ‘LetterBomb’. Writing to the Hon’ble High Court he has accused Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and his PA Mr Kundan, Dy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Transport minister Anil Parab.
Sachin Vaze has accused that Anil Deshmukh had demanded Rs 2 crore from him for his reinstatement as Mr Sharad Pawar was not in favour of his revoking suspension and Mr Deshmukh was to convince Mr Pawar for a price. Excerpt from his letter, ‘Soon after my reinstatement there were certain agitators to reverse the same. Apparently then it was ordered by Hon’ble Mr Sharad Pawar to again place me under suspension. This was told to me by the Hon’ble Home Minister Mr Anil Deshmukh over a phone from Nagpur. That, at that time, Hon HM sir also told me that he will convince Hon’ble Pawar Saheb and for the purpose he (Hon HM sir) asked me to pay Rs 2 Crores. I had expressed my inability to pay such an amount.’
In his long letter Sachin Vaze has accused Hon’ble Dy Chief Minister too. In an edited version here, he writes, ‘In the month of November 2020, I was approached by Mr Darshan Ghodawat who claimed to be close to Hon’ble Dy CM Mr Ajit Pawar. He explained to me about illegal Gurkha and Tobacco trade within the jurisdiction of the State of Maharashtra. He insisted that I should collect a monthly amount of Rs 100 Crores from these illegal gutkha sellers. On denial Mr Ghodawat warned me of loosing my post again’. Vaze further states that he raided the Gutkha sellers within the jurisdiction of Mumbai and sealed gutkha worth crores of rupees. The same Mr Ghodawat went to office and conveyed displeasure expressed by Hon’ble Dy CM and insisted that he should arrange a meeting with those manufacturers either with him or Dy CM. Vaze claims to have denied that request or order.
Further he cites an encounter with Hon’ble Minister for Transport, Mr Anil Parab. In the edited version of the letter Vaze writes, ‘In the month of August 2020 I was called by Hon’ble Minister Mr Anil Parab at his official bungalow and asked me to look into the SBUT complaint and asked me bring the trustees of the SBUT to him for negotiations. He also insisted to initiate primary talks to get Rs 50 crores from the SBUT in order to close the said enquiry.’ Here too Vaze states that he had shown his inability to do so. He further accuses, ‘That, in the month of January 2021, the Hon’ble Minister Parab Saheb again called me at his official bungalow and asked me to look into the enquiry against fraudulent contractors listed in the Brihanmumbai Mumbai Municipal Corporation. He told me to collect at least Rs 2 crores from about 50 such contractors.’ Vaze states that nothing incriminating was found by his department in that anonymous complaint. Mr Parab in a press conference totally denied these charges and said to be ready to go in for any enquiry including Narco Test.
Going further, where the Pandora’s box was opened, Vaze recites his encounter with the then Hon’ble HM Mr Anil Deshmukh. ‘in the month of January 2021, I was called by Hon’ble Home Minister saheb at his official bungalow ‘Dhnyaheshwari’ where his PA Mr Kundan too was present. The Hon’ble Minister told me that there are approximately 1650 bars and restaurants in Mumbai and told me to collect Rs 3 to 3.5 lakhs each from those for him.’ After informing that there were not more than 200 bars and showing inability to do the ordered job he was reminded of taking away of his job. Further Vaze states that he narrated the entire episode to CP Mumbai CP Mr. Param Bir Singh. He also expressed his apprehension that sometime in future he would be embroiled in a false controversy.
When so many things are happening it can’t be ‘My word against your word’. Shri Sanjay Patil Assistant Commissioner of Police (Enforcement) Crime Branch in his statement says that he happened to meet Mr. Vaze, when the parliament session was in progress and he told him that he met Hon’ble HM sir who asked him about information received by HM about the Rs 3 lakhs each from 1650 bars and restaurants being collected. But Mr. Patil further stated that he isn’t aware of Mr Vaze and HM actually meeting. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Enforcement) Crime Branch, Mr Raju Bhujbal too have briefed HM’s Pa Mr. Palande that there no iota of truth in information about collection from establishments.
Now the State of Maharashtra is in a state of Mini-Lockdown where the common people are struggling to meet ends and looking at the alleged “VasuliKand’ of thousands of crores one wonders where does this money go?
