Adarsh case: FIR sought against ex-CM Nilangekar

An RTI activist on Tuesday filed an application before a special court here seeking directions to the CBI to register an FIR against former Maharashtra chief minister Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar in the Adarsh Society scam. Activist Pravin Wategoankar has contended that during Nilangekar's term as the revenue minister, he had allegedly granted certain approvals to the society illegally.

"In return, his son-in-law Arun Dawle was allotted a flat in the society," Wategoankar alleged in the application. The activist has relied on a CBI application that had been earlier filed in the lower court seeking custody of former MLA and Adarsh promoter late Kanhaiyalal Gidwani when he was arrested.

"CBI, in its remand application, said Gidwani had opened an account in Kallappanna Awade Ichalkaranji Janata Sahakari Bank in Sangli under a proxy name, in which huge amounts of cash were deposited by him from time to time. Most of the amount deposited was then transferred to the accounts of his wife, sons and daughters-in-law and also to the account of M/s Jai Maharashtra in which his sons are directors," the application says.

The said amounts were used for making payments towards the benami flats booked in Adarsh, he alleged in his application.

"Arun Dawle, son-in-law of Nilangekar-Patil, received at least Rs 17.60 lakh from the Jai Maharashtra account. Nilangekar misused his official position and showed undue favours to the society. In return, Dawle was allotted flat in the society," Wategaonkar alleges. Wategaonkar wants CBI to make Nilangekar an accused in the case and also reveal the total amount deposited by Gidwani in the Sangli bank account. The application is likely to come for hearing on March 20.