Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday announced a judicial inquiry into alleged irregularities in the allotment process of the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society. Speaking in the State Legislative Assembly during the winter session, Mr. Chavan said a two-member panel of a retired judge of the High Court or the Supreme Court and a retired officer equivalent to the rank of Chief Secretary would conduct the probe under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.
As members held a long discussion on the Adarsh scam, the former Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan, who had to resign in the wake of the controversy, also stated his stand. Furnishing records from 1950, Mr. Ashok Chavan argued that the land in question never belonged to the Defence. He categorically denied that flats in the building were meant for wives of soldiers killed in the Kargil war. Welcoming an inquiry, he said the storm that had been whipped up was the result of “a pre-meditated and well-timed” conspiracy “selectively” targeting him.
CBI probe
The Chief Minister said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was probing the issue of ownership of the Adarsh plot. He clarified that, as per the records tabled by Mr. Ashok Chavan in the House, “the ownership was with the government, but the possession was with the Defence.” However, the Defence had maintained that that the land was theirs. “We will provide all the assistance to the CBI in this matter,” the Chief Minister said.
On the role of State government officials in the scam, he said notices had been issued to 21 officers, including 12 IAS officers.
With respect to the missing file notings from an Adarsh file, he said the State would seek forensic help if needed.
