The Rs 20,000-crore irrigation scam has not only dragged Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar into a controversy and made the NCP leader put in his papers, but also jolted the government enough to fish out the files on corruption cases against 80 bureaucrats and several ministers from where they lay gathering dust in Mantralaya all these days.

Taking the first step in what is a long process, the Home Department on Wednesday sought details from the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the corruption cases against the babus and ministers that are awaiting the mandatory government nod for further investigation.