Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Ambadas Danve on Thursday, 9 July launched a sweeping offensive against the Maharashtra government in the State Legislative Council, alleging that corruption has become deeply entrenched in the state's Revenue and Urban Development departments. Speaking during the discussion on the Last Week Resolution, Danve asserted that the ruling administration's claim of 'zero tolerance' toward corruption exists only on paper.

Institutionalised Corruption Alleged

Danve alleged that corruption in Maharashtra has been institutionalised to a degree where contractors are reportedly forced to pay commissions of up to 54 per cent at various levels to secure government contracts. He accused the state of administrative failure across multiple fronts, covering law and order, women's safety, police conduct, tribal land encroachments, stamp duty irregularities, and housing body scams.

The legislator cited alleged irregularities within the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), demanding independent probes into illegal developments on CIDCO plots in Navi Mumbai, construction activity lacking Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) approval, and an alleged ₹600-crore irregularity in the Integrated Vector Management project of the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation.

Women's Safety and Law and Order

Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Danve claimed that more than 26,000 women and nearly 6,777 minor girls went missing in the state over the past year. He alleged that the law and order machinery has crumbled, pointing to rising instances of atrocities against children, kidnapping, human trafficking, and unnatural deaths in prisons.

Danve further alleged that women office-bearers from the MahaYuti government in Mira-Bhayandar had written directly to Director General of Police (DGP) Sadanand Vasant Date and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding action against crimes targeting women and questioning what they described as political patronage enjoyed by criminals. He also alleged that a minor survivor of sexual assault was made to wait nine hours for a medical examination at the Kej police station, calling it a stark example of police insensitivity.

Revenue Department Scams

Turning to the Revenue Department, Danve alleged that corruption has reached its peak, referencing a sand mining case in Georai, Beed district. He claimed a local tehsildar misappropriated approximately 25,000 brass of sand earmarked for the Gharkul housing scheme, resulting in an alleged ₹90-crore scam. He also demanded a comprehensive investigation into revenue losses in Sambhaji Nagar, Beed, and Jalna districts attributed to under-valuation of properties and stamp duty evasion.

Danve alleged that encroachments have overtaken nearly 4,000 acres of land belonging to the Tulja Bhavani Temple, purportedly through the collusion of revenue officials. He also claimed that despite a formal report submitted by the District Collector on illegal seizure of tribal lands in Thane district for hotels and commercial construction, the state government has taken no action.

Maratha Reservation and Farmer Loan Waivers

Referring to the ongoing agitation led by pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, Danve urged the state government to expedite the issuance of Kunbi certificates based on the Hyderabad Gazette. He concluded by accusing the administration of running an aggressive advertising campaign around farmer loan waivers while, he alleged, not a single rupee has actually reached farmers' bank accounts.

This comes amid growing pressure on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to address governance gaps ahead of key local body elections. Danve's broadside in the Legislative Council signals that the opposition intends to keep corruption and civic failures at the centre of political debate in the months ahead.