Maharashtra BJP chief dubs charges against Khadse as 'political'

Pune: Even as speculations are rife on the fate of Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse amid a host of allegations against him, BJP state unit president Raosaheb Danve on Friday ruled out any "party action" against him till the charges against him are proved.

Terming allegations against Khadse as "political" in nature, Danve said the party has adopted a "cautious approach towards them", adding "we believe that there is no substance in them."

While maintaining that Khadse would face action if the allegations against him are proved in a court of law, he said there was "no pressure from the party high command" to remove him from the state cabinet.

Asked about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's meeting with party president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday over the Khadse issue, Danve said, "the chief minister submitted his report to Shah. But that does not necessarily mean that the report was against Khadse. It could be in his favour also."

Danve, who was in Jalna to pay respect to the memory of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde on his second death anniversary, said that since there was no "substance" in the allegations against the revenue minister, "there is no need for any action".

Khadse, a senior BJP leader, has come under cloud of a host of allegations including irregularities in a land deal in Pune and calls allegedly received from fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim's residence in Karachi on his mobile phone.

He is in a spot over the purchase of a three-acre Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation land in Bhosari allegedly at a low price of around Rs 3.75 crore from its original owner in the name of his wife and son-in-law. The market value of the land is reportedly Rs 40 crore.

Khadse, who is in his home town Jalgaon in North Maharashtra amid political heat, has denied all these allegations and said he would abide by the party decision in his case.

"I will follow my party's instructions and will abide by its decisions," he had said.

Fadnavis met Modi and Shah in Delhi yesterday and said the party will decide "appropriate action".