PANAJI: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case against Opposition Leader and Quepem MLA Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar in the disproportionate assets case could well open up another probe involving a company, whose chief promoter had accused Congress leader Pratapsing Rane and Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane of a Rs 6 crore bribe in 2014.
Babu's wife, Savitri Kavlekar, who is also a co-accused along with Babu in the DA case, is said to be a major shareholder in various companies.
Among them, Savitri holds 32% shares in Dahej Minerals and the company's chief promoter, Bhalchandra Naik, had formally accused Pratapsing and Vishwajeet of accepting a bribe in 2014.
Bhalchandra Naik had accused Pratapsing and Vishwajeet Rane of taking a bribe of Rs 6 crore and the SIT later registered an offence under IPC and under the Anti-Corruption Act.
Both senior and junior Rane had applied for bail in the case and their plea was accepted. At the time, Crime Branch special investigation squad had even interrogated Kavlekar regarding his links to Dahej Minerals.
The FIR against Kavlekar in the DA case and his links to Dahej Minerals have revived speculations in political circles. According to political analysts, the ACB which is investigating the DA case involving Kavlekar and his wife, may be compelled to re-open the Rs 6 crore bribery case involving senior and junior Rane.
According to sources, Savitri holds 32% shares in Dahej Minerals company, even more that its chief promoter Bhalchandra Naik, who holds 25% shares. The other major shareholders are Bharati Naik (18% shares), while other directors, Uday Mahatme, Gopalkrishna Prabhudessai and Niranjan Jain hold 10% shares each.
Meanwhile, Babu Kavlekar has informed ACB that he had obtained a loan of Rs 5.5 crore from three companies, consisting of Rs 1.7 crore from Akshit Exports, Rs 3 crore from Vibha Stars and Rs 80 lakh from Prime Stars company.
ACB sleuths have been unable to trace these companies and are expected to question Kavlekar to ascertain how and when these companies gave him the loans.
If Kavlekar fails to account for this Rs 5.5 crore loan, this amount could be added to his disproportionate assets case.
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WILL ACB PROBE?
* According to political analysts, the ACB which is investigating the DA case, may be compelled to re-open the Rs 6 crore bribery case against the Ranes
* Bhalchandra Naik, chief promoter of the company in question, had formally accused Pratapsing and Vishwajeet of accepting a bribe in 2014
* Both senior and junior Rane had applied for bail in the case and their plea was accepted
