Maharashtra minister on the run as court cancels bail

Maharashtra Minister of State for Transport Gulabrao Deokar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is on the run after the Bombay High Court cancelled his bail in a case of housing scam.

Deokar is reportedly untraceable for the past two days, and has not been seen at his residence in Mumbai or Jalgaon district in north Maharashtra.

The minister of state for transport is allegedly involved in a housing scam for construction of 11,000 low-cost houses in Jalgaon. The high court cancelled his bail Monday.

The NCP had sought Deokar's resignation over the issue. "Deokar has submitted his resignation from the post and it has been forwarded to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who will take further action," state NCP president Madhukar Pichad told IANS Tuesday.

In May this year, Jalgaon police arrested Deokar for the scam. He was, however, released on
bail on a surety of Rs.30,000.

The scam is suspected to be to the tine of nearly Rs.50 crore. The low-cost housing project for the poor never took off, but massive funds were allegedly given to a builder.
So far, 38 people, including former housing minister and Shiv Sena legislator Suresh Jain, have been arrested. Jain was arrested in March.

As many as 25 former corporators were also arrested Saturday. Of these, 15 were granted bail, while the rest were remanded in police custody.