Adarsh scam: Judicial panel inspects building

The Maharashtra government-appointed judicial commission, which is probing irregularities in the grant of various permissions to the controversial Adarsh Housing Society, today visited the 31-storey building in south Mumbai.

The commission is headed by former Bombay High Court Judge JA Patil, and includes former Maharashtra Chief Secretary P Subramanian as a member.

The officials from various state government departments, Defence Ministry and civic bodies accompanied the commission.

"We visited Adarsh to see the ground realities," Justice Patil later told reporters.

The inspection went on for two and half hours. The officials took various measurements at the building and surrounding premises. They also measured the adjacent Prakash Pethe Road which was allegedly cut down for the sake of the building.

"We examined the flats, car parking, and few other things and also spoke to the society members including the secretary and the chairman," Patil said.

Ashok Patel, a society member, said all the members cooperated with the commission and provided the required information.

The controversy about the building had forced the then Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to resign last year.