Shantaramtatya, who has filed a case in the Bombay High Court accusing the minister of clearing a questionable deal for the purchase of a CT scan and MRI machine for the government-run J J Hospital in Mumbai, was chairperson of the cooperative during 1996-97 before he was eased out by a panel headed by Dr Aher during the cooperative's elections about eight months ago.

With obvious glee, Dr Aher read out the report, which lists financial lapses Shantaramtatya's tenure, saying, ``People living in glass houses should not throw stones.''

The minister, who also hails from Deola town like Shantaramtatya, told members and office-bearers that five members of the cooperative had already lodgedcriminal proceedings against the MLC and an inquiry report would be submitted to the District Superintendent of Police, Bhagwantrao More, within a week. The audit report, prepared by officials of the Cooperative Department, indicates several lapses during 1996-97 and recommends and inquiry. It also says responsibility should be fixed for the irregularities.

For instance, the cooperative spent Rs 27.7 lakh more than it should have on purchases of chemicals and raw materials. It said 913 tonnes of lime were bought at the rate of Rs 2,790 per tonne whereas it was available for Rs 2,500 per tonne. Also, rock sulphur was purchased for Rs 5,343 per tonne against the going rate of Rs 3,483 per tonne. The report lists 12 items on which the cooperative spent Rs 27 lakh more than it should have. The report also points out that while 1,203 tonnes of sugarcane were ostensibly supplied to the cooperative by Shantaramtatya's family from 1994-95 to 1996-97, revenue records indicate that the land on which the cane wassupposed to have been grown is actually barren. Despite this, cultivation was shown on survey nos 476 and 477 and the family received Rs 7.74 lakh from the cooperative, the report says.

Crushing expenses of cane amounted to Rs 74.45 per tonne against the sugar federation's norms of Rs 50 per tone. The Vasantdada cooperative crushed 5 lakh tonnes of cane during 1996-97, incurring an additional expenditure of Rs 1.22 crore, the report adds.

Extremely gung-ho about the report, Dr Aher assured members that the irregularities would be investigated and no one would be spared. One of the minister's supporters, Manik Shankar Nikam, also moved a resolution seeking Shantaramtatya Aher's ouster from the primary membership of the cooperative. Nikam and a director, Shashikant Pawar, said Shantaramtatya should be dismissed as he had sold sugarcane outside the zone, instead of giving it to the cooperative. The cooperative's Chairperson, Pandit Nathu Pawar, remained silent during the meeting. A resolution demanding aninquiry into the alleged irregularities during Shantaramtatya's tenure as chairperson of the cooperative was also passed.

On September 2, the chief justice of the Bombay High Court had observed that Maharashtra is the worst administered state while admitting a public interest petition filed by Shantaramtatya against Dr Aher. The petition had accused Dr Aher of clearing the purchase of the CT scan and MRI machine at the cost of Rs 11 crore, causing a loss of Rs 4 crore. The machines have been idle since May 31, 1996. Dr Aher claims he had in fact saved Rs 14 crore in the purchase of medicines.