Nagpur: Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday wrote to Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, requesting constitutional intervention to ensure the final report of the Justice K U Chandiwal Commission is made public. The commission examined Rs 100-crore corruption allegations against him, and Deshmukh described the four-year withholding of the report as a 'murder of natural justice'.
Deshmukh's Letter to Raj Bhavan
In his letter, Deshmukh alleged that the state government intentionally did not release the 1,400-page report submitted by the commission on April 26, 2022, following a 13-month inquiry. He claimed to have sent 11 letters to the Chief Minister and repeatedly followed up with the principal secretary and department secretaries, yet the report was neither tabled in the legislature nor provided to him.
Deshmukh stated, 'The probe was directly connected to my case. To keep me and the people of Maharashtra deprived of the truth in a case where I am the principal subject is a blow to the foundational principles of natural justice.'
Commission and Its Findings
The commission, led by retired High Court judge K U Chandiwal, was set up by the state government to conduct a detailed investigation into the corruption allegations against Deshmukh. He pointed out that the government has not revealed the report's content, clarified its stand on the findings, or indicated any action it plans to take.
'When a commission completes its inquiry and the report is kept secret indefinitely, the very purpose of the inquiry process is questionable. The lack of clarity raises doubts about the transparency and intent of the government,' Deshmukh said.
Four Demands to the Governor
Deshmukh placed four demands before the Governor:
- The state government should be instructed to publish the entire report without delay.
- The findings should be formally shared with him as the person at the centre of the inquiry.
- An independent investigation should be ordered into why the report was withheld for four years.
- The Governor should use his special powers as the constitutional head to secure justice, transparency, and accountability.
Deshmukh urged the Governor to intervene to ensure that the truth is revealed and natural justice is upheld.
