Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis went on the back foot on Friday and ordered a stay on all transactions related to the CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation) land in Navi Mumbai until the judicial inquiry into the alleged irregularities in its allotment, was complete.

On Thursday Fadnavis announced a judicial probe into the alleged land scam. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Mumbai Regional Congress Chief Sanjay Nirupam alleged that 24 acres of government land at Raigad in Navi Mumbai was given to a private builder, Manish Bhatija of Paradise Builders, for just Rs 3.6 crore and claimed the transaction had ‘blessings’ of Fadnavis.

He claimed the builder was a business partner of BJP MLC Prasad Lad, who is a “blue-eyed boy” of Fadnavis. After the allegation, Opposition parties demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister for alleged corruption. 

MLC Prasad Lad sent a legal notice to Congress Mumbai Chief Nirupam for defamation. Lad demanded an apology or warned legal action in a court of law. 

On Friday, the CM directed the Revenue Department and Collector of Raigad to ensure that no transfer of sale of land is initiated until the probe is complete.