Chavan orders judicial probe into Adarsh scam

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today announced a judicial inquiry into the Adarsh scam under the Commission of Inquiry Act.

The two-member commission will be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court and will have as member a former state chief secretary. Chavan made this announcement in the legislature. However, he outrightly rejected the opposition’s demand to constitute a joint legislature committee inquiry into the Adarsh scam.

Chavan told the legislature that so far the government had issued a showcause notice to 21 serving and retired officials whose kin have flats in the Adarsh society, meant for widows of Kargil heroes. Besides, a criminal case has been registered against unknown persons on the missing documents relating to the Adarsh society.

Chavan’s announcement comes at a time when the Central Bureau of Investigation has already launched a probe into the scam. Besides, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Agency has revoked the occupation certificate given to the Adarsh society. Members of the society, which include bureaucrats, politicians and defence personnel, have approached the Bombay High Court against the cancellation of occupation certificates and snapping of water and power supply.

Former chief minister Ashok Chavan, who had to step down from his post for his alleged involvement in the scam, clarified the land on which the building has come up was in the possession of the state government and was not with the defence department. The leader of opposition in the state assembly, Eknath Khadse, demanded that bureaucrats should not be spared but due action must be taken against them for their alleged involvement.