Opposition stages walkout over oil mafia issue

The Opposition on Monday staged a walkout over the calling attention motion on the oil mafia issue. The walkout was prompted after Minister Anil Deshmukh informed the legislative council that the government had written to the Centre to amend the IPC and provide for stringent action against mafia. Accusing the government of inaction and shifting responsibility to the Centre, the Opposition staged a walkout.

Home Minister R. R. Patil has also said, " The aggrieved families of Popat Shinde and ashwant Sonawane had asked for a CBI inquiry into the matter and the state is willing to do so." MLC Dhananjay Munde questioned why the government had not been able to arrest the four absconding accused in the case even after two months after the incident.

Munde also questioned whether the government will come out with a white paper on externments made by the government and also whether the government will check cell phone records of Popat Shinde, ashwant Sonawane, other accused, other officers and policemen, so as to bring out the whole truth about the extent to which the adulteration racket was spread. Munde also demanded whether the government would come out with the report that was filed by a committee that was appointed when Rs.

3500 cr fuel adulteration scam came to light. Home Minister R R Patil said that action under MCOCA had been taken against 15 accused. " Four people are absconding. These will be caught soon.

We have not let them be given bail." Regarding questions raised about the suspension of externment of Popat Shinde that was suspended Patil said, " The Home Secy has powers to decide on externments on merit to merit basis, looking at earlier court orders. The suspension of externment to Popat was done because no crime had been registered in recent past against him.