The Central Bureau of Investigations, probing the Adarsh Housing Society scam, has finally decided to question former chief minister Ashok Chavan in the case. Earlier, the agency had interrogated Adarsh society’s general secretary R.C. Thakur, retired brigadier M.M. Wanchoo and Congress leader K.L. Gidwani.
“After questioning the other accused in the case, the CBI will now quiz Mr Chavan, based on the documents and evidences they have collected so far,” said a source.
However, Mr Chavan told this newspaper that he has not been contacted by the agency yet. “I have not been asked to do so by the agency so far. I have not received any summons to remain present before the CBI.”
The investigative agency has been spending considerable time scrutinising the documents and records of the housing society. “The CBI had set a deadline of May 31 to complete the probe in the case. However, it seems like it would overshoot, as several officers are either busy preparing documents to be submitted to the inquiry commission, set up to probe the scam, or are busy preparing for the numerous petitions filed in the Bombay high court,” a source said.
According to the CBI, Mr Chavan, during his tenure as the revenue minister, became part of the criminal conspiracy along with Mr Thakur, Mr Wanchoo and Mr Gidwani, after he proposed to the trio to pass a letter recommending inclusion of civilians in the housing society, which was initially meant for Kargil war widows and victims.
The CBI alleged Mr Chavan abused his official position with an ulterior motive of getting flats for his relatives.
Meanwhile, the former chief minister refuted reports that his mother-in-law Bhagwati Sharma had taken `65 lakhs loan from former joint commissioner of police (traffic), Sanjay Barve and in return of the favour, Mr Barve’s father was allotted a flat in the society. Mr Barve had denied the allegations, and had said that he had not paid any amount and that his father had been allotted a flat by the society for which he paid from his own account.
“Mr Barve has already clarified his position on the erroneous report and so has Ms Sharma. The news has been planted and is completely bogus,” Mr Chavan said.