MUMBAI: Maharashtra Cooperatives minister Subhash Deshmukh accepted the possibility of ‘irregularity’ in cash transactions at his business group on Friday, even as the NCP stepped up the offensive against him. “There might have been some irregularity, but it was certainly not wrongdoing,” Deshmukh told a news channel while trying to clarify his position on the `91.5 lakh cash found in a vehicle belonging to the business group owned by him. “I am ready to accept any action for the irregularity,” he added.
The Election Commission had earlier in the day served notice to the minister’s business group Lokmangal asking it to clarify about the huge cash within 24 hours.
“I have never used my political background for my business. In fact I’ve been a successful businessman even before I joined politics some 15 years ago. Transactions of such large amount are not new to my business. My family has been running the business very honestly. We pay all taxes,” the minister said while clarifying allegations that the money was being transported for use in the municipal council polls.
The minister had earlier said the money was being moved to his sugar factory to pay the cane workers. “The money was withdrawn from the Solapur headquarters of Lokmangal bank on November 5. But, it was not deposited back after the demonetisation move,” he said.
However, NCP leader and leader of opposition in legislative council Dhananjay Munde raised several questions over the incident and demanded Deshmukh’s resignation.