Mumbai: Acceding to the request by Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, the retired Supreme Court Judge P B Sawant on August 22 night agreed to head the one-member probe panel to go into charges of corruption against four Democratic Front (DF) ministers and alleged irregularities in the public trusts run by noted Gandhian Anna Hazare.

The Chief Minister telephoned Sawant and urged him to work on the judicial panel in view of the demand by the people of the state in this regard, an official release said.

"Many prominent personalities from across the state have asked me not to consider the recommendation of appointing the probe panel at the instance of Hazare or the minister…but the state should set up one on its own," Shinde told Sawant during their telephonic conversation.

Following Shinde's request, Sawant agreed to reconsider his decision and has consented to work on the panel, the release said.

PTI