Somaiya demands Maharashtra HM's resignation over travel nod to Wadhawans

Saying that the government's action against the official who grant permission to the Whadhawans to travel amidst the lockdown was mere "window dressing" senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Friday demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh over the permission given to DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan, accused of financial fraud, to travel despite the ongoing lockdown.

He said the government's action against Amitabh Gupta, Principal Secretary (special) in the home department, who has been sent on compulsory leave following the incident, was mere "window dressing".

The former Lok Sabha MP sought to know on whose instructions Deshmukh told Gupta to provide VVIP treatment to the "fraudulent" Wadhawan brothers.

"Sending Gupta on leave is nothing but window dressing. We want the resignation of Anil Deshmukh," Somaiya said in a video statement.

Earlier in the day, Deshmukh announced that Gupta, who gave permission to the Wadhawans to travel to Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill station in Satara district, has been sent on compulsory leave.

The bureaucrat had issued a letter exempting the Wadhawans from the lockdown norms citing a family emergency.

Deshmukh said the decision has been taken after discussion with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

According to local police officials, the Wadhawan family along with others travelled from Khandala to Mahabaleshwar on Wednesday evening in their cars, even when both Pune and Satara districts are sealed amid the ongoing lockdown for containing coronavirus.

Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan are accused in Yes Bank and DHFL fraud cases.

(PTI Report)