Uddhav govt sends own Principal Secy on leave for letting Wadhawans' lockdown violation

Taking action against violation of lockdown by DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan and ir family, Maharashtra government has sent special Principal Secretary Amitabh Gupta on compulsory leave starting Friday. Informing about decision, Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh said that he spoke to CM Uddhav Thackeray and till enquiry against him is complete he is sent on compulsory leave with immediate effect. Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against DHFL promoters and ir families in Satara district's Wai.

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Days after citing coronavirus threat to skip Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation,  DHFL promoters violated lockdown, Satara Superintendent of Police (SP) confirmed on Thursday. Satara's SP informed Republic World that 23 members of Wadhawan family travelled to Mahabaleshwar. He added that locals flagged authorities on ir arrival. 

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However, Wadhawans presented a letter from  Principal Secretary (Home) Amitabh Gupta in which he had said that he kws m well, and are travelling from Khandala to Mahabaleshwar for a 'family emergency'. letter, signed on April 8, 2020, also listed five cars that Wadhawans were travelling in, as per reports. 

READ | Wadhawan family violates Lockdown; 23 family members travel to Mahabaleshwar

ED probe on Wadhawans

Earlier, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged that VVIP treatment was given to Wadhawans by Maharashtra government. ED is probing into loans offered by Yes Bank to DHFL allegedly through 80 shell companies. On February 21, a special court in Mumbai granted bail to Kapil Wadhawan, chairman and MD of Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL) arrested in connection with  money laundering case also involving late gangster Iqbal Mirchi. Wadhawan (46) was arrested on January 27 by ED under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to ED, Wadhawan was instrumental in laundering of huge amounts of money as part of an illegal deal with Mirchi, who died in 2013 in London. 

READ | Dewan Housing Chairman Kapil Wadhawan Gets Bail In Mirchi Case