The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday closed nine cases
related to the Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam in which Ajit Pawar is an
accused.
The ACB though insisted that there was no connection between
Ajit Pawar taking oath as deputy chief minister and the closing of the
corruption cases.
Parambir Singh, director general of Anti-Corruption Bureau,
said, “None of the cases that were closed today are related to Ajit Pawar.”
ACB officials said that these are routine complaints filed
by local farmers, and NGOs, and the closed investigation files are not among
the 20 FIRs filed under the scam.
ACB officials said that in a scam of such massive proportion
where so many FIRs have been filed, the only order cannot close the entire
investigation. “We can close the FIRs only by moving the court,” said an ACB
official.
“No wonder, the only decision taken in ‘public interest’ by
BJP-Ajit Pawar is to close all cases of corruption & malfeasance. The BJP
way of probity in public life,” tweeted Randeep Singh Surjewala.
On Monday, additional director general of police (ACB) Bipin
Kumar Singh in a ‘confidential’ letter to the superintendent of ACB Amravati
ordered to close nine open enquiries in the complaints filed in connection with
irrigation Scam. These complaints were filed with ACB in nine irrigation
projects at Washim, Yavatmal, Amravati, and Buldhana.
On November 28, the ACB had to show progress in multiple
other cases. Hence closure report in some routine case has been filed and it
will be submitted in the High Court, ACB officials added.