MUMBAI, Oct 19: Justice M L Dudhat, who is probing into charges of corruption against controversial Shiv Sena leader Shashikant Sutar, is likely to exonerate him in the absence of adequate evidence against him. Justice Dudhat will submit his report to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi at Mantralaya tomorrow.Justice Dudhat was appointed by the alliance government three months ago under the Commission of Inquiry Act following the recommendations of the one-man Puranik committee.Justice Suryakant Puranik had been appointed to probe the charges against Sutar and then Irrigation Minister Mahadev Shivankar - who is currently Minister for Finance and Planning - following a series of complaints lodged by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare. The two were charged mainly with possession of assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. In addition, Sutar was charged with unauthorised purchase of vast tracts of land in Pune district, misuse of official vehicles, illegal construction of a bungalow in Pune district and discrepancies in the transfer of officials. Justice Puranik held Sutar guilty of corruption charges but exonerated Shivankar. During pendency of the inquiry, both Sutar and Shivankar were divested of their portfolios. After Justice Puranik submitted his report, Shivankar was reinducted into the Cabinet. As per the recommendations made by Justice Puranik, the government appointed an inquiry against Sutar. Apparently, the inquiry conducted by Justice Dudhat was one-sided as barring one complainant (T P Khutal), none of the original complainants (who submitted the complaints to the Chief Minister) appeared before the committee.Justice Dudhat had written two official letters to Anna Hazare urging him to depose before the commission. Hazare however not only refused to appear but suggested that the complaints submitted by him to the Chief Minister be treated as evidence. In the absence of documentary and other evidence, Sutar is likely to be exonerated.
