When contacted, Shailesh Patil declined to discuss this project and said: “Given my family background, I like to keep a low profile. There is nothing about the distillery project we have to hide. I feel very satisfied that such an investment in a rural area provides employment opportunities for poor farmers.”

At the distillery site, villagers of Badoli — where most of the land acquisition was done — allege they have been “cheated” by the distillery owners since they were not provided employment as they had been promised. Village Sarpanches of adjoining Gola and Sherpur villages allege their land has been “usurped” as the distillery expands its operations.

Far away from the distillery, in his father’s former constituency Latur, Shailesh Patil is also the chief patron of a sugar cooperative mill in Nalegaon. That factory, which Shivraj Patil helped start, is steeped in losses and debt, is fighting scores of legal battles and is struggling to survive even as it is making expansion plans.

The annual report of the factory describes Shailesh Patil as a “young leader” who is the “margdarshak” or guide and whose picture is printed ahead of that of the chairman.

Chairman Manikrao Patil, a doctor who is related to the Home Minister’s family, says he has been running the factory for the last two years “with the help of Shailesh.” He admits that “Shailesh’s presence helps as he involves himself in getting the required permissions and also in interacting with the commissioner of co-operatives in Pune and at the CM’s office.”

... contd.