Adarsh Society scam: ‘I welcome any sort of CBI probe’, says Chavan

MUMBAI - Reacting to the allegations surrounding the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Friday said that he did not abuse his position to help his relatives get flats in the society, and added that he welcomes any sort of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the scam.

“I was not the Chief Minister of Maharashtra when the request for land came up. I have no role in allotment. I have not abused my position. These are politically motivated allegations,” said Chavan.

“In 2004 we decided to allot land for this society, I was not the minister when the land got allotted, I was not the revenue minister when the allotment happened finally. I was also not the minister when letter of intent was first sent,” he added.

Chavan further said the land belongs to the State Government, and it was not reserved for Kargil widows or war heroes.

“The land belongs to the state government, based on the Collector’s records. Revenue department land granted to the Society as per GR of 9.7.1999. This land falls outside defence boundary. It was not reserved for war veterans or Kargil heroes,” said Chavan.

The 31-storey high-rise in Colaba has become the catchment area for a massive political controversy.

Former army chiefs, politicians and bureaucrats have all been allotted flats here for a fraction of the market rate.

Records show that two members of Chavan’s family, whom he describes as distant relatives, are among the 104 alottees for Adarsh Society.

The CBI is now investigating the scam. (ANI)