Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, home minister Anil Deshmukh discuss leak of corruption report

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. File pic/Ashish Raje

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh met late Tuesday evening in view of the circulation of former State Intelligence Commissioner Rashmi Shukla's confidential report and phone tapping data, and the petition of former police chief Param Bir Singh, which will be heard in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Sachin Vaze after being produced by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a court following his arrest. File pic/PTI

Sources said the state was likely to investigate the leak, and Shukla might face the heat under the service rules and Official Secrets Act. Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis submitted a copy of the report and data to the union home secretary demanding a CBI enquiry in the alleged police transfer racket.

Cong feeling left out?
The Congress wants to be taken into confidence by the Maha Vikas Aghadi partners in the ongoing crisis, that has been compounded by the opposition's incessant allegations, especially against Home Minister Deshmukh.

Congress ministers and leaders met on Tuesday evening to discuss the issue. Sources said they were uncomfortable with the damning developments, and felt sidelined as far as making a counter strategy was concerned. The other partners, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party, have taken turns to face the heat in the cases involving suspended police officer Sachin Waze and subsequent allegations the city's former top cop, Param Bir Singh, has made against Deshmukh.

Leaders' speak
"The Congress leaders have chipped in with their views in support of the government, but they don't feel totally involved in the matter that, if escalated further, might endanger the MVA's existence, said a Congress leader. A minister who attended the meeting said, "Our main concern is that we're not taken into confidence (by the partners)."

The other MVA partners have faced the heat in the cases involving Waze and Param Bir Singh's allegations against Deshmukh. File pic/Ashish Raje

However, in Tuesday's meeting the leaders didn't reach any firm recommendation to be made to the high command, except for expressing concern over the fallout and their treatment by partners. Sources said the party high command had asked the Maharashtra unit for its report.

Though senior minister Balasaheb Thorat had endorsed the NCP's stand that Deshmukh need not quit, party's state in-charge HK Patil had said the resignation could be one alternative.

2019
When Commissioner of Intelligence Rashmi Shukla kept certain phones on surveillance