Fisheries Ministers in Dock Over Fishing Contract Scam

Mr Sanghani has signed on the file which gave contracts in 2008 without tenders, reports TimesofIndia.

Plus, said the governor in a communication to the Gujarat high court, "Sanghani had approved the illegal decision of Solanki and had also telephonically directed the respective officers that work orders be given immediately."

The governor has specifically noted the observation of the Gujarat HC while quashing all the contracts that "Solanki has usurped the powers for extraneous reasons to favour certain parties for illegal gratification." She has given permission for prosecution under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and added that "when there is a massive campaign against corruption going on in the country, it is my duty to grant sanction for the sake of purity of administration."

The governor's report paves the way for the petitioner Ishaq Maradia filing a police or court complaint against Solanki. It also opens up the possibility of making Sanghani, a close confidant of chief minister Narendra Modi, a co-accused in the case. The complainant's lawyer, Mukul Sinha said "After studying the order, we will go after Sanghani."

The decision of the governor was on Monday placed before the HC bench of Justice Jayant Patel and Justice C L Soni, who were hearing a contempt plea against Modi and his council of ministers over the state government's refusal to give sanction to Solanki's prosecution.

The court had earlier directed the state government to act on the matter, failing which, it had put the ball in the governor's court. The government, which concluded that no case can be made out against Solanki, now also finds Sanghani in trouble.