‘Sanghani must go to jail’; RTI activist Nathalal Sukhadiya, 37, who lodged a case against Law Minister Dileep Sanghani and his men for allegedly assaulting him, says he will ‘put the corrupt minister in his place’

Ahmedabad Mirror: Ahmedabad: Saturday, July 07, 2012.

RTI activist Nathalal Sukhadiya, who had lodged an FIR with Amreli police against Law Minister Dileep Sanghani after the alleged attack on him by the latter’s men, says he is determined to expose the “corrupt” minister.

“I will ensure Sanghani goes to jail,” said an angry Sukhadiya, who has so far filed 35 RTI applications seeking details of the assets of the minister, his family and aides. He has alleged that Sanghani is involved in 12 scams worth Rs 500 crore. “I will continue to file RTI applications seeking more information on the minister’s assets,” said Sukhadiya.

He claims that when Sanghani came to know that he will be exposed, he contacted him through BJP worker Babubhai Hirpara. “When I refused to compromise he tried to bribe me by offering money. I did not relent. So he sent his men to attack me at my farm on June 24. It is because of God’s grace that I am alive. I am determined to put Sanghani in his place. He will have to give up power,” said Sukhadiya.

Following the assault on the activist, a local court in Amreli directed the police to conduct an enquiry against Sanghani and submit a report within 15 days. Sukhadiya, 37, a resident of Devalia village, has studied till class 7. He joined the BJP when he was 17 and was closely associated with Sanghani who he once idolised. “I worked for BJP for 17 years before I decided to quit. I was a strong Sanghani supporter once.”

Sanghani currently holds seven portfolios including agriculture, co-operation, animal husbandry, fisheries, cow-breeding, prison, excise, law and justice, legislative and parliamentary affairs. Sukhadiya says he was “shocked” to learn of Sanghani’s involvement in corruption through RTI applications.

The activist alleges that Sanghani and his men have grabbed around seven acres land worth Rs 50 crore which belongs to Amreli municipality-run primary school and two acres of land for feeding cows in Amreli town.

It is also alleged that in order to make a greenhouse on the 1,200 bigha land owned by Sanghani, 12 of his family members including his wife, brothers, sisters-in-law and nephew have been given a subsidy of Rs 3.24 crore.

Sukhadiya who is planning a public meeting on July 14 to expose “Sanghani’s doings”, said, “I pledge that I will put him behind bars. My hometown, Amreli, gets drinking water only once in 12 days. Sanghani has made crores from corrupt practices. Had he even spent 5 per cent of the corruption money, people of Amreli would have been getting water for five hours every day.”