15 April,2009 03:56 PM IST | | PTI
Seeking to know from Maharashtra government why it has not taken action against Jalgaon MLA Ramesh Choudhary for having submitted false bills to recover medical expenses, Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed that the legislator be made a respondent in the PIL filed by an NGO.
A division bench of Justices Bilal Nazki and VK Tahilramani observed that if the government has recovered Rs 20.09 lakh from the MLA, why has it not initiated any action against him?
"The report filed by a high-powered committee formed by the state has said that Choudhary submitted 41 invalid medical bills and has received over Rs 20 lakh from the state exchequer. This amounts to cheating and misuse of government money and is a cognizable offence," the court noted.
Advocate General Ravi Kadam informed the court that the medical officer who had prepared the bills for Choudhary has been dismissed.
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Regarding action against the lawmaker, the Public Health Department would have to approach the Law and Judiciary Department.
Justice Nazki said if the medical officer, who could not have refused the MLA, has been dismissed then why no action has been taken against the erring MLA.
The court posted the matter for hearing on May 6.
The PIL, filed by city-based NGO Janhit Manch, has sought action against MLAs submitting fake medical bills.
