MUMBAI: Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday revealed that the decision to not appeal against the verdict discharging the accused in the Maharashtra Sadan scam, including NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, was taken by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, and that the state would consult the Attorney General or Solicitor General of India if required on whether an appeal could be pursued in the case.
Fadnavis was speaking in the state assembly in response to demands by CM Eknath Shinde faction MLA Suhas Kande that an appeal be filed in the case in which the accused were discharged by the PMLA court in 2021. Kande is a rival of the Bhujbal family and had defeated Bhujbal's nephew Pankaj in the 2019 assembly polls.
In the assembly, Kande alleged that a "powerful minister" in the MVA government had pressured the state not to appeal. "The law and judiciary department had issued the GRs. They were withdrawn under pressure... " said Kande.
Fadnavis said the government pleader felt an appeal should be filed. However, when the case went to the high court, the government prosecutor felt there was no need for an appeal. The law and judiciary department felt that an appeal should be filed, and accordingly, issued two government resolutions, Fadnavis said.
Since the matter involved a minister, it was sent before former CM Thackeray. Thackeray asked for an opinion of the advocate general. The advocate general asked a retired judge for his opinion and he said there was no need for a review or appeal. "On the basis of the judge's opinion, former CM Thackeray quashed the two government resolutions that sought an appeal. No official was pressured," said Fadnavis.