Adarsh scam: Maha bureaucrats asked to explain source of funds

Cracking the whip on top officials linked to the Adarsh scam, the Maharathstra government has sent notices to bureaucrats whose kin own flats in the controversial building in south Mumbai asking them to explain the source of funds.

"The bureaucrats, including senior IAS officials, have been asked to explain source of funds and also their explanation over alleged breach of conduct of civil service rules," Mantralaya sources said.

Those issued notices include former BMC commissioner Jairaj Phatak, former Urban Development Secretary Ramanand Tiwari, former Urban Development Deputy Secretary P V Deshmukh, and former Chief Secretary D K Shankaran. Children of these officials own flats in Adarsh.

These officials have been asked whether they informed the government about the purchase of flats and the source of funds, the sources said.

The development comes in the backdrop of reports about collusion between politicians, defence officers and senior bureaucrats to corner flats in the building.

Earlier last month, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) revoked the Adarsh housing society's occupation certificate and the civic body also cut off its power and water supply after the society failed to submit necessary papers.

The society, built on a 6,490 sq mt plot in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) II, was initially promoted as housing for Kargil war veterans and widows but has been in the eye of a storm for violating environmental and other norms and misusing the land granted to it.