Mumbai Police to probe CAG report leak

Mumbai, April 17 (IANS) Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil Tuesday ordered an investigation by Mumbai Police into the alleged leak of some portions of the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) report which reportedly indicted some ministers, while the opposition Shiv Sena demanded a CBI probe into the lapse.

The development came a fortnight after a Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Devendra Phadnavis present a CD to assembly Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil and Shiv Sena member of legislative council Ramdas Kadam named the ministers indicted in the report.

This afternoon, the state government officially tabled the CAG Report for the year ended March 31, 2011 before the two houses of the legislature.

The opposition vociferously demanded a discussion on the CAG Report, but the ruling party refused it on grounds that it would be first discussed by the Public Accounts Committee headed by the opposition, leading to four adjournments, and finally the house being adjourned for the day.

Announcing the police probe, Patil requested Phadnavis to co-operate in the matter as its contents had leaked out in the form of a CD.

"CAG is an important constitutional body. Vidhan sabha too is an important body. However, before the report is tabled in vidhan sabha, contents leaked out in the form of a CD. This is a serious issue. Leakage of the secret document is a serious issue. We want to ensure that it never happens in future," Patil declared, announcing the police probe.

Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse of the (BJP) said that he "welcomed" the probe.

The Shiv Sena demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the entire episode.

"Patil has announced a probe into the leak of CD... but there should be a CBI probe into the entire issue," demanded Shiv Sena group leader Subhash Desai.