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National

Prithviraj announces judicial probe into Adarsh scam

Rahi Gaikwad

Nagpur: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday announced a judicial inquiry into the irregularities in the allotment process of the Adarsh housing society. Speaking in the State Legislative Assembly during the ongoing winter session, Mr. Prithviraj Chavan said a two-member panel of retired judge of the High Court or the Supreme Court and a retired officer equivalent to the rank of Chief Secretary would conduct the probe under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.

As members held a long discussion on the Adarsh scam, ex-Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who had to resign in the wake of the controversy, also stated his side. Furnishing records from 1950, Mr. Ashok Chavan argued the land in question never belonged to the Defence. He categorically denied that flats in the building were meant for Kargil widows. Welcoming an inquiry, he said the storm that has been whipped up was the result of “a pre-meditated and well-timed” conspiracy, “selectively” targeting him.

Probe

Mr. Prithviraj Chavan said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was probing the issue of ownership of the Adarsh plot. He clarified, as per the records tabled by Mr. Ashok Chavan in the House, “the ownership was with the government, but the possession was with the Defence.” However, the Defence has maintained that that the land was theirs. “We will provide all the assistance to the CBI in this matter,” the Chief Minister stated.

On the role of State government officials in the scam, he said notices had been issued to 21 officers, including 12 IAS officers. For those involved in the decision-making process, it needed to be probed if they or their relatives had received flats after a particular decision or flats had been allotted in return for a particular decision.

“Officers whose decisions were instrumental in their getting flats should be probed and be punished,” Mr. Prithviraj Chavan said. With respect to the missing file notings from an Adarsh file, he said the State would seek forensic help if needed. As a long-term solution, he has ordered electronic scanning of all the Secretariat files.

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