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Journalism of Courage
The Gujarat government has lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau against ex-CM Shankersinh Vaghela and his Civil Supplies minister Jashabhai Barad for misusing their positions in releasing persons accused of black marketing and hoarding essential commodities.
Civil Supplies Minister Kaushikbhai Patel today said the complaint followed the submission of a report by the Lokayukta which found the two guilty of committing an offence under an anti-corruption law.The Lokayukta began the probe in July, 1998. Vaghela and Barad were charged with not being faithful to the Constitution of India. Patel said Barad revoked an order to detain Sajankumar Madhogadhia, director of The Sun Flames Pvt Ltd, that allegedly sold cooking gas cylinders in the black market.
The detention order issued by the Mehsana District Magistrate was revoked even before Madhogadhia turned himself in. Vaghela similarly revoked a detention order issued by the Kheda DM against Rajubhai Sachdeo, Rameshkumar Shah and Salimbhai Vohra, who were charged with hoarding wheat meant for Mahavir Traders, a wholesaler in edible oil and pulses. Patel said there was no justifiable reason for the release of the hoarders.
In another case, the Kheda Magistrate had issued detention orders for Jayantibhai Shah and Himmatbhai Solanki, owner and manager respectively of Shreeji Corporation in Kapadwanj, on the charge that they had sold 24,000 litre of kerosene meant for ration card-holders in the black market. After two prominent traders agreed to stand surety, Vaghela ordered the release of the two even before their detention.
Vaghela, who is GPCC chief, told The Indian Express the complaint was ‘‘politically motivated’’. He said the government was trying to ‘‘cover up its failures on all fronts.’’
‘‘Why are they lodging a complaint now?’’ asked Vaghela, who headed the RJP government in 1997. ‘‘And that when I had responded to all queries posed by the Lokayukta.’’ He said many CMs had ordered such releases in the past because they enjoyed the authority to do so.
