Mumbai: The CBI is all set to file a case
in the Adarsh cooperative housing society scam, which has seen
the removal of Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra Chief Minister, and
it has started scrutinising documents collected from several
departments.
Defence Minister A K Antony had yesterday announced a
CBI probe into the alleged bungling in the housing society, in
which some senior army officials including former army
chiefs Deepak Kapoor and N C Vij too had flats allotted in
their name.
A CBI spokesman in Delhi said the agency was yet to
receive a formal request from the Defence Ministry seeking a
probe into the scam.
CBI, which was making in-house investigations into the
case following complaints since October, was examining
documents received by it from several departments, official
sources said.
CBI had sought documents relating to the society from
various departments of the government, Indian Navy and Army
and the society, the sources added.
"While we had received over 4,000 page documents from
the city collector`s office, the society members have sent us
a letter requesting more time to submit the documents. We have
also received documents from other departments," a senior CBI
official said.
Even today, the CBI continued to be flooded with
emails regarding information about this scam, the official
said and added "we are verifying all the information and
documents after which a decision would be made on any further
course of action. Before registering a case, we need to gather
information."
The agency had sought details such as when the society
was formed, how many members are there, who are the members
and mode of payment made by them in purchasing the flats and
documents related to various permissions granted by different
departments of the government.
The plush housing society, built on prime defence
land, has been constructed in alleged violation of rules. The
building was originally meant to be a six-storey structure to
house Kargil war heroes and their kin but was later extended
31 floors without taking any mandatory permission.
The allegation was that some of the relatives of
politicians including that of Chavan had flats in the society.
Adarsh Housing Society members` lawyer Satish
Maneshinde said "we have given certain documents to CBI and
have sought further time to submit the remaining. We have also
written to MMRDA officials asking them to take back the notice
revoking the occupancy certificate of the society.
"The notice violated principles of natural justice;
the building was constructed legally and necessary sanction
that been granted by authorities including the MMRDA."
PTI
