Vilasrao's love for Bollywood is ruining his political career

Vilasrao Deshmukh with son Riteish.When his US-educated architect son Riteish told him he wanted to become an actor in 2002, Union Minister for Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh gave his go-ahead. But 10 years on, the former chief minister must be regretting it.On February 9, the Bombay High Court indicted Deshmukh for irregularities in the allotment of 20 acres of land to Mukta Arts, producer Subhash Ghai's company, for film training institute Whistling Woods International. Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Girish Godbole ordered Whistling Woods to surrender the open space of 14.5 acres in Goregaon (East), Mumbai, immediately and the remaining 5.5 acres, where a studio and building stand, by July 31, 2014. The high court also asked Mukta Arts to pay a rent of Rs 5.3 crore per annum to the state government from the date of its joint venture with Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation on October 24, 2000. Deshmukh's fault: he overlooked then culture minister Ashok Chavan's opposition to the deal, handed over the land at concessional rate and signed papers of the "illegal" agreement as a witness.Ghai announced that his company would file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the high court order. "I am a filmmaker and committed to education of the next generation. I am confident that I will get justice in the Supreme Court," Ghai said after the high court order.Deshmukh was in touch with several film personalities as Maharashtra culture minister between 1985 and 1990 but his association with the industry hit the headlines in January 2003 when Riteish's debut film Tujhe Meri Kasam was released. Officials of the state's publicity department were put in charge to ensure that the film was a hit at the box office. Deshmukh, then chief minister, even extended an invitation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi to attend the premiere. Fifteen days later, Sushilkumar Shinde replaced him as the chief minister.Deshmukh did not learn a lesson even when he returned as chief minister in 2004. On November 29, 2008, he took Riteish and film producer Ram Gopal Varma on a 'tour' of Taj Mahal Palace hotel immediately after the 2611 terror attack. The video was flashed on every news channel. Deshmukh was again asked to step down.The Union minister has been in the dock over the alleged misuse of his position in other cases as well. In 2010, Deshmukh was criticised by the Supreme Court over the Maharashtra government shielding a Congress money laundering legislator from Khamgaon, Dileep Sananda. It had imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Deshmukh for pressurising police not to file a complaint against Sananda. In 2011, he was again in trouble over his alleged role in the Adarsh Housing Society scam. The recent rap by the Bombay High Court on transfer of land has blocked Deshmukh's chances of re-entry in state politics.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Feb 18, 2012 07:58 IST--- ENDS ---

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Vilasrao's love for Bollywood is ruining his political career

The recent rap by the Bombay High Court on transfer of land to Subhash Ghai's media institute has landed Deshmukh in a fresh controversy.

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