Deshmukh signed off with bonanza

Clearly, Deshmukh had seen the writing on the wall immediately after his meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on January 13. That was the day he allotted 80 flats — spread across Mumbai and Maharashtra — to Cabinet members, leading politicians and sportsmen. Cooperative societies floated by retired judges, bureaucrats and senior police officers got prime land.

Deshmukh defended himself saying none of these were policy decisions. ‘‘Most of the proposals were pending before me for a long time,’’ he told The Indian Express. ‘‘ I did not create new files. I approved recommendations made by concerned departments.’’

The good news for Deshmukh is that new Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde — wary of his fragile coalition — will do nothing to rock the boat. ‘‘He (Shinde) is aware of the decisions taken by Deshmukh but does not intend to do anything about it,’’ a source close to Shinde said.

A rundown on the decisions taken by Deshmukh:

• FLATS: Among those allotted flats under the discretionary quota of the Chief Minister are Cabinet ministers Hemant Deshmukh, Sanjay Deshmukh, legislators Padmakar Valvi (Congress), Vasant Itkelkwar (independent), J P Gavit (CPI-M), Sudershan Nimkar (Congress); shooter Anjali Bhagwat and fast bowler Zaheer Khan. Nimkar and Gavit have been given flats in a prestigious cooperative housing society at Andheri. More than 100 politicians had staked their claim for these two flats.

DESHMUKH’S DEFENCE: I am well within my powers to take such decisions. There is nothing illegal. The file was pending in my office for a long time.

• LAND: Four cooperative housing societies got land. Nyaya Sagar, promoted by retired members of the judiciary, Renuka, promoted by leading politicians, Midnova promoted by medical practitioners and Sai Kripa promoted by bureaucrats and top police brass got prime land in Bandra at about 20 per cent of market rates. He used a resolution, which provides for allotment of land to cooperative housing societies on priority.

DESHMUKH’S DEFENCE: I have not violated any law or shown favour to any organisation. Most of these cases were pending in my office for a long time. As per the existing practice and also as per a government resolution, it is within the powers of the government to allot two plots from a layout to a cooperative housing society, while the remaining plots can be auctioned.

• APPOINTMENTS: Deshmukh also made appointments on the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, State Maritime Board and Other Backward Classes Corporations.

DESHMUKH’S DEFENCE: There were vacancies on these boards for a long time. The appointments were made after consulting constituents of the Democratic Front.