CBI registers Preliminary Enquiry in Adarsh Housing scam

CBI registers Preliminary Enquiry in Adarsh Housing scam

CBI has registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) in Mumbai Housing Society scam in connection with the alleged role of former and serving Army officers, apparently not exercising the option of a regular case for the moment.

A CBI spokesman said in a statement on Monday that a PE had been registered against unknown people on a complaint by the Defence Ministry.

Defence Minister A K Antony had on Tuesday last announced a CBI probe into the scam involving Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society in which some senior military officers including former army chiefs Gen Deepak Kapoor and Gen N C Vij and ex-naval chief Admiral Madhavendra Singh had flats allotted in their names. The three ex-chiefs have since said they are surrendering their flats.

"After PE, if prima facie evidence of criminality is found, regular case will be registered," the CBI spokesman said.

The Defence Ministry has among other things requested CBI to look into issues concerning No Objection Certificate, relinquishment of the land in possession of Army and the extent to which commitments for welfare of defence personnel were complied with.

The registering of PE by the CBI in place of a regular case has surprised observers especially when Maharashtra Chief Miniser Ashok Chavan lost his job within days of the scam coming to light.

Under PE, the CBI cannot effect any seizure of documents or arrest any person.

CBI, which had made an in-house investigations into the case following complaints since October, had apprised the officials at its headquarters about the findings from the documents received from several departments, the sources said.

It 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.

Adarsh Housing Society members' lawyer Satish Maneshinde had 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 had been granted by authorities including the MMRDA."

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 to 31 floors without mandatory permission.

Irregularities did take place in Adarsh Society: Antony

Prima facie there were "irregularities" in construction of Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai, which include issuance of 'No Objection Certificate' by Army and grant of the society membership to civilians, Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha.

He said the CBI has been entrusted with the inquiry to get the matter thoroughly investigated and responsibilities fixed.

Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society (ACHS) had sought land from Maharashtra government for the welfare of serving and retire personnel.

"Prima facie there have been irregularities," Antony said in a written reply to questions on Monday.

"Some issues of concern in this regard include issue of NOC by the Army to inter alia alienate the land in its possession in favour of the ACHS; by-passing the Coastal Regulation Zone and disregard to security concerns of the defence services," he added.

The Minister said the Society had also deviated from its commitment for defence forces welfare and included civilians as members of the Society.

He said 102 people were alloted flats in the society, of which 37 were serving officers.

The society has constructed a multi-storeyed building on a land measuring approx 3837.57 sq metres in Colaba, Mumbai.

The scam came to light after Western Naval Commander Admiral Sanjeev Bhasin shot off a letter to the Army headquarters and the Defence Ministry seeking action against the building for posing a security threat to military installations.

The land was within the security perimeter of the naval base in the upscale Colaba region of south Mumbai, Admiral Bhasin had noted in his letter.

It also came to light that former Army Chiefs General Deepak Kapoor and General N C Vij, apart from former Navy Chief Admiral Madhavendra Singh too had flats allotted in their name in the housing society that was meant for families of Kargil martyrs.