Former minister had written to Nashik Police Commissioner about plot to frame him and son Sarabjot
Former minister had written to Nashik Police Commissioner about plot to frame him and son Sarabjot
A new twist has been added to the ongoing investigations in the Nashik bribery case involving former union home minister Buta Singh's son Sarobjot alias Sweety.
Buta Singh's letter (MiD DAY has a copy) indicates that the minister had informed Nashik Police Commissioner V D Mishra on July 27 that a plot was being hatched to frame him and his son. The letter was dispatched by speed post with the inward number 341.
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In his letter, Singh wrote that on his return to New Delhi on July 22, he learnt that Ramrao Tukaram Patil, former contractor with the Nashik Municipal Corporation, was trying to offer his gratitude to his family and staff. The matter was discussed with the police commissioner on July 26, three days before Sarobjit's arrest.
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Singh mentioned in the letter that a case of cheating should be registered against Patil. The contractor went underground after informing CBI officials about the alleged bribe.
CBI officials arrested Sarabjot on July 31 after Patil's tip-off. "Sarabjot was coerced by the officials to admit to the crime or the investigators would have implicated his father,'' said that Satish Maneshinde, Sarabjot's advocate.
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A senior CBI official said despite the letter, Buta Singh and Sarabjot may find it difficult to explain their association with Dukh Singh Chauhan, another accused in the case.
Records available with the Directorate of Enforcement indicate that Chauhan was arrested under the provisions of Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Acts (COFEPOSA) in 1994-95.
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Some of his dealings were linked to the hawala syndicates in Dubai.
CBI's Joint Director Rishi Raj Singh said his officers were planning to record Chauhan's statement before a magistrate, so that they could present a strong case before the court.
Patil's Tainted Past
Ramrao Tukaram Patil hails from a village near Talegaon in Nashik district.
He formed the Pade Credit Society, a credit cooperative for farmers, in 2004 after working as a labour contractor with the Nashik Municipal Corporation.
Patil told peasants that he could arrange free tractors for them if they pledged their 7/12 (saat-baara) land-related document. Several farmers were duped in the deal.
Patil also worked with a tractor manufacturer (Swaraj Mazda) in 2006 and was sacked for alleged misappropriation of funds.
He operated from a small office at Vashi in Navi Mumbai in 2007 and promised loans and tractors to applicants.
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He returned to Nashik and opened another credit cooperative for formers and embezzled Rs 11 crore. Insiders say he bought more than 100 acres of land for his two wives near Nashik.
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