Eknath Khadse

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Eknath Khadse
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Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
In office
08 July 2022 08 April 2024

Khadse was involved in controversies even before 2016 corruption charges. He first courted controversy when he advised farmers to pay their electricity bills instead of splurging money on cellphones. TV news channels and print media criticized him for wastage 10,000 lit. of water for the creation of temporary helipad in his tour of drought suffering Latur that time. [31]

Accusations of nepotism

Khadse's tendencies to forward the interests of his kin did not go down well with the rank and file of his party [BJP]. Many members harboured resentment over how he promoted his family members to important posts in Jalgaon. His daughter-in-law Raksha Khadse is an MP from Raver, while his daughter Rohini Khewalkar was made director of the district cooperative bank and wife Mandakini became the director of Mahanand, the state milk cooperative federation. [31]

Corruption charges and resignation

Khadse resigned on 3 June 2016 after allegations of impropriety surfaced against him in a land deal in Pune. Realtor Hemant Gavande leveled charges of land grabbing against him, alleging that Khadse had misused his position as the State Revenue Minister to illegally execute sales deeds for a three-acre (1.2 ha) industrial plot at Bhosari in Pune District in the names of his wife and son-in-law. Khadse is accused of buying land at prices much lower than market price through his influence and ministry. [32] Former Aam Aadmi Party politician and activist Anjali Damania gone on hunger strike and demanded inquiry against Eknath Khadse. [33] She broke her hunger strike after then-CM Devendra Fadnavis assured her that he would do a proper investigation of the Pune land deal and other corruption accusations of Khadse. [33] She filed public interest litigation against Khadse. In the retaliation Khadse filed case against her at Muktainagar accusing her maligning his image by submitting false affidavits at Bombay High court and seek her arrest. [34] Khadse accused Damania of making false and defamatory statements against him and served defamation notice. [35] [36] [37] In 2017, following orders of Bombay High Court, the state anti corruption bureau registered case against Khadse, his wife Manda Khadse, and his son-in-law Girish Choudhary. [38]

In May 2018, Khadse claimed a clean chit from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Maharashtra Police, saying the ACB wasn't able to prove the allegations. [39] [40]

On 30 December 2020 Enforcement Directorate summoned him on this land deal case to interrogate and ask to provide documents. [38] [32] Khadse later claimed that the land at Pune was purchased by his wife Manda Khadse and he personally had nothing to do with it. [38]

Personal life

Khadse was born in Kothadi village to Ganpat Khadse and Godavari bai Khadse in Muktainagar tehsil of Jalgaon district. His son, Nikhil, committed suicide on 1 May 2013. [41] He hails from the Leva Patil community. [8] His daughter-in-law Raksha Khadse is a member of the 16th Lok Sabha from the Raver constituency, serving her second term. [42]

Philanthropy

Khadse runs two private schools in Muktainagar. [43]

Positions held

Further reading

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Political offices
Preceded by Cabinet Minister for Revenue, Excise and Minority Affairs
Government of Maharashtra

31 October 2014 –
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Cabinet Minister for Agriculture
Government of Maharashtra

31 October 2014–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Maharashtra State Guardian Minister for Jalgaon district
2014–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Maharashtra State Guardian Minister for Buldhana district
2014–present
Incumbent