CBI submits progress report to HC on Adarsh scam probe

CBI submits progress report to HC on Adarsh scam probe

The CBI on Wed submitted progress report to the Bombay High Court on the probe in the Adarsh Housing Society case, involving 14 accused, including former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan.

Additional Solicitor General Darius Khambata handed the report, in a sealed cover, to the division bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and R V More. The bench asked CBI to file a further report after four weeks.

The matter has now been posted for hearing on 20^th July.

CBI had earlier informed the court that it had registered case against 14 persons following which the court had asked the petitioner, Simpreet Singh, to forward his complaint and whatever documents he had to the agency.

Singh, a social activist, had originally sought transfer of case from state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to the CBI.

Later, on its own, the state government decided to hand the case over to the central agency.

On the last occasion, Singh's lawyer had said that High Court must supervise the probe, alleging that even Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was involved in the scam, but his name does not figure in CBI's FIR.

However, the court felt it was investigating agency's prerogative as to whom to name in the FIR.

CBI filed the FIR on 29^th January under various sections of IPC, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery, besides sections under Prevention of Corruption Act.

Meanwhile, hearing another PIL which demands that provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act be invoked in the Adarsh case, the division bench on Wednesday asked CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file replies by 29^th June.

Petitioner Pravin Wategaonkar contends that Adarsh is a fit case for probe under PML Act, and it is ED's responsibility to conduct probe under the Act.

The PIL says it is necessary that the court monitors probe under PML Act, especially pertaining to those Adarsh Society members, whose "loans" were claimed to have come from sources other than the banks and the financial institutions.

Even those, who are claiming immunity now saying that they have quit the membership Society, should be investigated with regard to the source of funds used to acquire the membership in the first place, it says.

Comm to decide on Adarsh land allotment: Deshmukh

Amid the blame game, Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said it is up to the commission, probing irregularities in the scam-tainted Adarsh housing society, to decide on the controversial land allotment issue.

"Whatever I have to say I have stated in my affidavit. Whatever others have to say, they have already said in their affidavit. Now it is up to the commission to decide. We should not unnecessarily do blame gaming," Deshmukh told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday reacting to questions on Chavan's allegations.

A blame game involving the two former Maharashtra chief ministers had started over the scam on Monday with Chavan saying the prime land was sanctioned by Deshmukh, then chief minister, and he had no role to play.

Deshmukh said all the affidavits have been made "as per the file movement" and there is "nothing which we can say without the record. It is as per the record".

The Union Minister had filed an affidavit before the two-member commission on 17^th June saying that while allotting land to Adarsh he had acted on the proposal sent by the Revenue Department and the Mumbai Collector.

Asked whether he thinks that the building needs to be pulled down, Deshmukh said, "This has to be decided by the commission and the court and the government. I am not part of all these three."

In his affidavit before the commission, Chavan had said he was not involved with any recommendation to include civilian members in the building meant for armed forces personnel in upscale Colaba area.

Chavan, who had to step down as chief minister last year following the Adarsh controversy, was the revenue minister from 1999 to 2003 when land was allotted to the housing society. Deshmukh was the chief minister during that period.

Chavan has been named among the 14 accused by the CBI in its probe into the scam.