Zee Media Bureau
Mumbai: In a big setback to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan has refused to give permission to the investigative agency to probe former chief minister Ashok Chavan in the Adarsh Housing Society scam.
"Yes, the Governor has refused permission to CBI to prosecute Chavan," a senior government official told a news agency.
The CBI had asked for Governor’s permission to question Chavan, who is accused of allegedly issued out clearance to the 31-storey highrise in south Mumbai in return for two flats for family members.
Chavan was also charged with illegally approving as the Revenue Minister the allotment of 40 percent of the flats to civilians when the society was meant for Kargil war widows and defence personnel.
Chavan had resigned from Maharashtra Cabinet in 2010, when reports suggested that his family members were allotted two flats in the Adarsh society.
Reacting to the development, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis expressed shock. Fadnavuis said that it is a clear case of quid pro quo and will ensure case is lodged against those involved in corruption.
This is shocking for us that appeal to prosecute Ashok Chavan has been rejected: Devendra Fadnavis,Maha BJP President on Adarsh housing scam
Four former chief ministers -- late Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan, Shivajirao Patil-Nilangekar and now union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde -- besides politicians and bureaucrats were examined by a two-member commission that probed various aspects of the scam involving the 31-storeyed building in south Mumbai.
The scam pertains to alleged irregularities in construction and allotment of apartments in the building said to be originally meant for families of Kargil war heroes and their widows.
The Defence Ministry had in December 2012 filed a title suit stating that the land in Colaba where the 31-storey Adarsh building is constructed belongs to it (the Defence Ministry) and its possession should be handed back.
The ministry had filed the title suit after a state government appointed judicial panel held in its report submitted in April 2012 that the land belonged to the Maharashtra government and it was not reserved for Kargil war widows or their families.
The Defence Ministry in its suit has alleged that the Adarsh building was built "illegally and unlawfully".
