Adarsh panel issues summons to society members

The commission of inquiry formed by the Maharashtra government to probe alleged irregularities in the Adarsh housing society has set in motion the process by sending summons to the society members to file their affidavits.

The summons signed by the Secretary to the commission, N N Kumbare, were sent to 25 members till yesterday after the panel received no response to its notification put out in newspapers inviting affidavits from "persons interested in the subject matter or affected or likely to be affected by it".

"Of the 103 members, summons has been sent to 25 so far and the remaining would get it in two to three days," a highly-placed source in the Mantralaya said.

He said the affidavits would be scrutinised within eight days of receipt before deciding the further course of action.

"On receipt of your affidavit the commission may decide to summon you to appear before it and give evidence on oath if it considers necessary," the summons said.

The Justice J A Patil commission was constituted in January following opposition's mounting demand to bring to book all those responsible for irregularities in allotment of flats in the building in upscale Colaba that was meant for war heroes and Kargil widows.

The flats in the 31-storey building were cornered by several politicians, bureaucrats and three former defence service chiefs.

On January 16, the Ministry of Environment and Forest had ordered demolition of the building for violation of the spirit of the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) laws. The society members moved the Bombay High Court on February 14 against the ministry's order, saying it was "wrong in law".

The CBI has also registered an FIR against 13 accused including former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who was forced to resign after his name cropped up in the case. Chavan's relatives too had flats in the building.