Silence Of Samana

Last week, Bombay High Court set aside an order passed by Narayan Rane in 1997. Rane, by his order, had upheld Essel Group's
ownership of a big piece of land in Gorai. Despite the fact that a case regarding the land was pending in High Court. (It is still pending!) Government's case, all along, was that it was government's land. Till Rane decided otherwise. Land was worth Rs 139 crore, as per 1993 government estimate. High Court has said in the present order that Rane "misused" his powers as a revenue minister.

This story appeared in Maharashtra Times last Sunday. (I, being a court correspondent, and a Rane-baiter, missed it. It still hurts.)

S Balakrishnan rightly asks in today's TOI: how come Shiv Sena, and its mouthpiece Samana, are still quiet? High Court's judgement is available online. Samana wouldn't, ordinarily, waste an opportunity to screw Rane. But not a word on this issue.

Balakrishnan explains: The reason is not far to seek. Rane took the decision when the saffron combine (Shiv Sena-BJP) was in power in the mid-90's.