Maharashtra opposition legislators protested at Vidhan Bhavan on Tuesday, calling for FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal’s resignation following bribery allegations against his office staffer at Mantralaya.
Protesting MLAs from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) gathered on the steps of the legislature building ahead of the day`s proceedings, raising slogans against the BJP-led Mahayuti government, accusing it of shielding a “corrupt minister” and calling for immediate action following the arrest of an FDA clerk by the ACB on bribery charges earlier this month, reported PTI.
Sting operation exposes bribery in Mantralaya
On February 12, the ACB caught FDA clerk Rajendra Dherange red-handed while allegedly accepting a Rs 35,000 bribe at Mantralaya. Minister Zirwal`s private secretary, Dr Ramdas Gade, was also relieved of his post and directed to report back to his parent department following a sting operation related to bribery.
Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of the Congress in the Council Satej Patil, NCP (SP) leader Shashikant Shinde, and MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar were among those participating in the demonstration on the steps of Vidhan Bhavan on the second day of the budget session.
Following the backlash over bribery instances in his department, Zirwal stated that he would resign if any link were established between him and the accused clerk.
The Congress has targeted the BJP-led Mahayuti government, claiming that corruption has reached the highest administrative levels in the state.
Maharashtra FDA clerk arrested for Rs 35,000 bribe at Mantralaya; will quit if link proved, says minister
Earlier in February, a clerk from the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly accepting a bribe at Mantralaya, the state secretariat in Mumbai.
According to the ACB, Rajendra Dherange was caught red-handed on Thursday while allegedly taking Rs 35,000 from a complainant who had sought the restoration of his medical licence. The clerk, posted on the second floor of Mantralaya, was responsible for preparing papers for departmental hearings.
Earlier, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged that “bribery and commission-taking are happening openly in Mantralaya under the Mahayuti government.” He demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis disclose full details of the case and remove the minister concerned.
The controversy has intensified political tensions in the state, with the opposition demanding accountability and the minister promising strict action if any wrongdoing is established.
(With PTI inputs)
