Adarsh Society scam: Maharashtra CM to meet Sonia Gandhi today

NEW DELHI - Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has been summoned to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi here today in connection with the controversial Adarsh Housing Society project.

According to sources, the Congress leadership appears to be upset with Chavan, whose mother-in-law and two other relatives are among 103 members of the housing society project in Mumbai.

Chavan had been involved in clearing papers for the upscale high-rise Adarsh building project in his previous capacity as Revenue Minister.

On Friday, Chavan said he did not abuse his position to help his relatives get flats in the society, and added that he welcomed any sort of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the scam.

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

Chavan further said the land belongs to the state government and 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 the defence boundary. It was not reserved for war veterans or Kargil heroes,” said Chavan.

The 31-storey high-rise in Colaba has become a 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. As of now, some of these members have decided to return their allotments (ANI)