Adarsh Society scam: Associates of three former CMs got flats?

Mumbai: The Adarsh Society scam involves many heavyweights. While Maharashtra's Chief Minister Ashok Chavan stands to lose his chair, there are other top politicians who are also directly or indirectly involved.

It now seems three former Chief Ministers of Maharashtra - Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Narayan Rane - not just gave clearances to the controversial building, but also to have benefited from the allotments. Sources  tell NDTV that associates of  all the three former Chief Ministers were allotted flats in the 31-storey Colaba complex.

Vilasrao Deshmukh's associates Amol V Kharbhari, Kiran Bhadange and Uttam Ghakare figure on the list of 104 allottees. Deshmukh, a two-time Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and now the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, denies the charges. He told NDTV, "I have not recommended flats for anyone."

Sources also says allottees Rupali Raorane and  Girish Pravinchandra Mehta are close  associates of Narayan Rane, while Sushil Kumar Shinde's associate Major NW Khankhoje also has a flat. Rane declined from reacting to the allegations.

Sushil Kumar Shinde says he may have signed the papers as the Chief Minister but denies any wrong doing. "I have never recommended anybody's name for an allotment and I have no 'benami' investment," Shinde said. (Watch: Associates of top Maharashtra politicians have Adarsh flats?)
 
Top politicians helped associates get flats?

Other top politicians from the state, including senior NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil and Anil Deshmukh,  are also now being implicated in the scandal.

According to sources, the list of allottees includes Maharashtra Energy Minister Ajit Pawar's associates, Krishnarao Bhegade and Shivajirao Kale. Home Minister R R Patil's associate Chandrashekhar Gaikwad, Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil's relative, Aditya Patil, Food and Civil Supplies minister Anil Deshmukh's associate Mukundrao Mankar and Revenue minister Patangrao Kadam's associate, Balasahib Sawant have also been allotted flats in the Adarsh society.

Former Revenue Minister Shivajirao Nilangekar's associates Arun Davle and Sampat Khidse were also allotted flats.

However, top NCP leader and Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Chhagan Bhujbal says none of his party's members have anything to do with the Adarsh scam. " The NCP leaders are not linked to the scam. They have not given any extra facility to anyone. They have not bent the rules. Somebody must have come to them for  a recommendation, and writing recommendations is a routine for leaders," Bhujbal said.

And its not just the politicians who have their fingers in the Adarsh pie. Top bureaucrats and army officers have also been implicated in the scam. (Read: Adarsh scam - Bureaucrats served themselves)

Meanwhile, power and water supply  to the Adarsh building has been cut off. This comes after the building's occupancy certificate was revoked on Friday.

Sources: Army probes top officers

Sources say the Army is probing four successive General Officers Commanding (GOCs) of Maharashtra and Gujarat area, all of whom were allotted flats in the Adarsh Society. The Army has ordered a formal inquiry at the headquarters level into the allotments. Three retired Generals and one serving General is under the scanner.

Prominent amongst them is Major General (retired) TK Kaul who was in Mumbai as a sub-area commander when the files was initiated in 2003. After his NDC Cource in Delhi, Kaul then came back as Area Commander of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Kaul was also an office bearer in the Adarsh Housing Society. Also being probed is Major General RK Hooda, who was the GOC in Mumbai till July this year. He is now posted in Delhi.

The Army will probe not only if the Generals helped in  getting permits for the society, but how the General could afford flats which cost upwards of Rs 75 lakh. (Watch)

3 former service Chiefs, Admiral Madhavendra Singh and, Generals Deepak Kapoor and Nirmal Chander Vij, who have flats in the Adarsh Society have already offered of give up their flats. "I have written to the Adarsh Society I'd like my membership of the society terminated and my membership cancelled," General Kapoor told NDTV, denying all charges of nepotism. (Watch: Ex-Army chief Deepak Kapoor defends himself)

Congress in a fix over Chavan's replacement

Ashok Chavan, the Maharashtra Chief Minister met Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi this evening.  The Congress says a decision on Chavan's resignation will be taken after Mukherjee and his cabinet colleague, AK Antony submit their internal report on the Adarsh Scam. Antony is also the Congress General Secretary in-charge of Maharashtra.

"We are examining the papers. I have just come back (to Delhi) this evening. I will consult with my colleague, A.K. Antony. We need more time," Pranab Mukherjee said after his meeting with Chavan. (Watch: We are examining documents, says Pranab)

The Maharashtra Chief Minister had met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Union Defence Minister AK Antony on Saturday. (Read: Who will replace Ashok Chavan?)

The BJP has urged the Congress chief to accept Chavan's resignation immediately. "Chavan's resignation should be accepted without delay and without wondering who his replacement should be. As for as the other three people are concerned, the BJP will discuss what action is to be demanded against them," Sushma Swaraj told reporters in New Delhi today.