India, Dec. 13 -- The Maharashtra government has suspended nine revenue officials, including four tehsildars, over large-scale illegal excavation of minor minerals in Pune district's Maval tehsil, where excavation exceeded permitted limits by 90,000 brass. Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced the action in the state assembly on Friday, after an ETS (electronic total station) survey confirmed massive irregularities in land parcels reserved in the proposed development plan for private afforestation.

The suspensions follow a calling-attention motion moved by Maval MLA Sunil Shelke, who alleged that senior officials, including an additional district collector, supplied misleading information and shielded those involved in the ...