Prithviraj Chavan refuses to make politicians' riches public

MUMBAI: The state government has decided not to make its ministers' assets public.
Even as corruption allegations have been levelled against several ministers, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has declined a request to display details of their immovable properties, shares and debentures, cash and jewellery online. Instead, he has asked the general administration department to only display the names of those ministers who have declared their assets on the government website.
The Union government has made it mandatory for ministers to make their assets public; Bihar has already enforced the model. A code of conduct for ministers in the state requires them to disclose the details of their assets and liabilities and their business interests, along with those of their family members, to the CM. The declaration, which should be updated by August 31 for each financial year, is made in a sealed envelope.
Citing the Bihar government's decision to display its ministers' assets online, social activist Anil Galgali had written to Chavan requesting him to make information about Maharashtra netas available on the government's website, too. But Chavan turned down the request, said sources.
Galgali felt that the apprehension that a few of the ministers could be exposed if their assets go public could be behind Chavan's decision. "Various scams involving acting ministers have come to light in the recent past. If the assets of ministers and their kin are made public, certain netas could find themselves in a tight corner," he claimed.
But a source in the government clarified that the code of conduct states that the ministers' assets are not expected to be put in public domain.