Decode Politics: Why a Fadnavis govt initiative has got stuck in Room 102 of a Dhule guest house

BARELY TWO days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated legislative committees that are meant to provide oversight and accountability to state governance, one of them finds itself in a controversy.
On Wednesday, Rs 1.84 crore worth of cash was seized from a room in a government guest house, which was allegedly booked by the personal assistant of Estimates Committee chairman Arjun Khotkar.
The Opposition has alleged that the money was intended as a bribe for members of the Estimates Committee, which is tasked with examining government spending and recommending measures for improved financial management.
* What is the present controversy?
The Estimates Committee is currently on a visit to Nandurbar and Dhule districts to examine work being done there.
On Wednesday, a former MLA from Dhule city, Anil Gote, alleged that ₹5 crore was stashed in Room 102 of the state guest house in Dhule. He claimed the room was booked under the name of Kishore Patil, the government-appointed personal assistant to committee chairman Khotkar.
Gote alleged that the money had been pooled by government officials as a bribe for the committee. He then staged a protest outside the room, prompting the district administration to break it open.
Inside, officials recovered Rs 1.84 crore in cash, stored in 12 bags. The money was handed over to the Income Tax Department, and an investigation has been initiated.
Gote has alleged that Kishore Patil had been calling officials and demanding money in the days leading up to the committee's visit to Dhule.
'Patil had set up base in Dhule from May 15. He was calling government officials from the Resident Deputy Collector's office and asking them for money. A thorough probe needs to be conducted,' Gote said.
Khotkar has called the allegations an 'attempt' to malign his committee.
'Gote has a habit of making wild accusations. My personal assistant was not staying in the said room. He was in the adjacent one… Hopefully, the truth will come out,' Khotkar said.
* How has the government reacted?
The incident has come as an embarrassment to the government, especially after Fadnavis's acknowledgment while announcing the committees that these had been misused in the past. While Patil has been suspended, the Maharashtra government has ordered a formal probe into the matter.
'The whole truth must come out. This episode raises serious questions about a legislative committee, which cannot be tolerated. The honour and dignity of the state legislature must be upheld. Therefore, an SIT will be formed to investigate the money trail,' said Fadnavis.
* The need for legislative committees in Assemblies
Committees play a crucial role in scrutinising legislation, examining government policies, conducting inquiries, and overseeing departmental functioning.
The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has 30 different committees. The most important among them in matters of finance and government spending are the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Estimates Committee.
The PAC is responsible for looking into government spending and to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of public funds.
The Estimates Committee examines the budget estimates of ministries to ensure that funds are used effectively for their intended purposes. The committee can also suggest cuts in inefficient or unjustified spending, though it cannot propose new expenses.
For example, it can recommend ways to reduce waste, improve the effectiveness of government programmes, prevent overspending, and highlight cases of mismanagement or poor financial planning. It also evaluates whether government schemes are delivering the expected results and can seek explanations from government officials for any shortfalls.
While committees are considered a key component of the legislative process, their power to summon officials and request information and reports exposes them to potential misuse. There have been accusations in the past of committee members overlooking irregularities in exchange for pecuniary gains.
* The latest Estimates Committee in Maharashtra
The Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly and the Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council jointly appoint the Estimates Committee. The current committee, consisting of 28 members, was appointed on April 29, with representation from both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. Shiv Sena MLA Arjun Khotkar was appointed as the head of the committee.
On May 19, Fadnavis presided over the joint inauguration of the Maharashtra legislature committees 2024–25. Admitting instances of misuse in the past, the CM said 'a collective decision was made to guide and retain these committees'.

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