This Article is From Jul 19, 2012

Adarsh scam: Former Army Chief contradicts Defence Ministry's stand

Adarsh scam: Former Army Chief contradicts Defence Ministry's stand
Mumbai: Former Army Chief Deepak Kapoor has reportedly contradicted the Defence Ministry's stand on the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

While deposing today before the two-member judicial commission which is probing the scam, retired General Deepak Kapoor said that the Adarsh building is not a security threat for the nearby defence installation as compared to other high-rise buildings in the area.

Retired General Deepak Kapoor had given up the Adarsh membership after the news of the scam broke out.

Former defence personnel are deposing before the judicial panel probing the Adarsh Society scam.

Earlier this month, Retired Lt General GS Sihota had told the commission that the land in question does not belong to the Ministry of Defence.  

The Defence Ministry has always maintained that Adarsh Society was illegally built on their land.

There are multiple agencies probing the Adarsh scandal, including the judicial commission which was set up by the Maharashtra government after the outcry over the scam. The commission is probing the ownership of the land and whether it was reserved for Kargil War heroes.

The interim report submitted by the commission stated that the land belongs to the state. Three former chief ministers of Maharashtra who have deposed before the panel - Ashok Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Vilasrao Deshmukh - too have maintained that the land belonged to the state.

Mr Chavan is among 13 people who have been charge-sheeted by CBI in the multi-crore scam. He has been charged with cheating and criminal conspiracy for recommending the allotment of 40 per cent of flats to civilians in what was supposed to be a society for defence personnel.

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