Allegations against me are misleading, political: MCA Vice President Amol Kale after being named in IT scam

Mumbai Cricket Association vice-president Amol Kale, who has been named in an alleged information technology scam by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, has denied the allegations, saying that he had not taken any work contract from the state government. Kale said he will sue the Rajya Sabha MP and others for defaming him. In a statement datelined Mumbai, Kale clarified that he was very much in the country and the allegations were "misleading, mala fide and political" in nature.

On Tuesday, Raut accused Kale and Vijay Dhawangale of being involved in an alleged Rs 25,000-crore scam. Pic/Bipin Kokate

On Tuesday, Raut had named Kale and Vijay Dhawangale for their alleged involvement in a Rs 25,000 crore IT scam during the BJP-Sena government. He said he would share information, on alleged money laundering, with the state police which will later hand it to the Central agencies. Raut added on Thursday that Kale has escaped to England fearing action. State Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe also tweeted on similar lines. Kale came out with a public statement on Thursday, clarifying that he was very much in the country and the allegations were "misleading, mala fide and political" in nature.

He said, "I am a private businessman and vice president of Mumbai Cricket Association [MCA]. I have seen and read in social media, news televisions and newspapers statements by some political leaders in the past two days and Thursday morning . These statements are completely misleading and defamatory. I have not taken any contract/tender or work from the Maharashtra Government. My income tax returns have full details of my private business. And yet, some leaders have made allegations against me to create doubts. I will be initiating legal action against all these leaders. There is no question of my going anywhere abroad."

Londhe had tweeted in the morning, saying that there was information that a scamster named by Raut had escaped to London. "Is that person Amol Kale?" he asked. Later in the day, state Congress president Nana Patole too raised a similar question.