Adarsh scam: CBI raids premises of ex-BMC chief

March 15, 2011 11:26 am | Updated November 17, 2021 05:34 am IST - Mumbai

A view of the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society building in Mumbai.

A view of the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society building in Mumbai.

As a part of the investigation into the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday raided seven premises of the former Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner, Jairaj Phatak, at New Delhi, Mumbai and Pune, and his native place, Yavatmal.

They also searched his bank lockers and those of his family members.

“We raided the premises of Jairaj Phatak and found incriminating documents about the Adarsh Society,” a senior CBI official told TheHindu. The agency also seized documents about Mr. Phatak's movable and immovable properties.

Mr. Phatak is currently the Chairperson and Managing Director of the State-run Rural Electrification Corporation.

According to the First Information Report filed by the CBI in January, he was accused of illegally regularising the height of the Adarsh Society building without proper permissions from the High Rise Committee. His son was issued a flat in the Society.

Mr. Phatak was named a suspect in the FIR and not an accused, pending permission from the Centre to take action against him.

According to the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, the investigating agency has to take permission from the Government of India before taking action against any officer of Joint Secretary rank and above. The CBI recently got the nod from the government.

“We raided seven premises which include his Delhi office, Delhi residence, four flats in Mumbai, and one flat in Pune,” a senior CBI official said. “Of the four flats in Mumbai, one is at Marine Drive, one at Versova, one at Bandra and one in Navi Mumbai. In Pune, he has a bungalow in Nigdi,” CBI sources said.

A press release issued by the CBI said: “He is also in possession of three lockers in Mumbai, which are in the name of his wife. One locker is in the joint name of his wife and daughter-in-law. One locker is also identified at Delhi.”

The CBI said Mr. Phatak has a fixed deposit of around Rs.50 lakh in his name, and the family has 22 accounts in different banks. “The searches of the lockers and other premises are continuing,” the release said.

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