Mumbai:
The Maharashtra government has sent notices to 12 top bureaucrats who own flats in the controversial Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai, asking if there has been a breach of conduct of civil service rules.
The bureaucrats who have been issued the notices include ex-BMC chief Jairaj Phatak, ex-Urban Development Secretary Ramanand Tiwari, ex-Urban Development Deputy Secretary PV Deshmukh, and ex-Chief Secretary DK Shankaran. Sons and daughters of all these officials are flat owners at Adarsh.
Through these notices sent by the General Administration Department, the government wants to know whether the former officers informed the government about the flats they bought. The government also wants to know the sources of funds and if they declared the flats in property transactions.
The Adarsh Housing Society Scam
The society in Colaba, a plush locality in Mumbai, was originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and their kin but was later extended to 31 floors allegedly without mandatory permission. (Adarsh scam: A bigger land-grab plan)
The Adarsh Housing scam has made national headlines over the past few weeks and cost ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan his job. Three of his relatives were allotted flats in the high-rise. He was replaced by Prithviraj Chavan. (Heads roll over Adarsh scam: Chavan out)
Investigations by the media suggest that politicians, retired Army officers and senior bureaucrats colluded to corner flats in the building. The Army is investigating the role of some of its senior-most officers for their alleged role in the scam.
The society's occupation certificate was cancelled by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and its power and water supplies were cut by the civic body on November 3 after it was revealed that the building was constructed in alleged violation of rules. Two months ago, the Navy and Army also objected to the building on the grounds that it will give occupants a clear view of defence installations along Mumbai's coast. They are now exploring the option of demolishing the society after extensive evidence that it was built on defence land.
The bureaucrats who have been issued the notices include ex-BMC chief Jairaj Phatak, ex-Urban Development Secretary Ramanand Tiwari, ex-Urban Development Deputy Secretary PV Deshmukh, and ex-Chief Secretary DK Shankaran. Sons and daughters of all these officials are flat owners at Adarsh.
Through these notices sent by the General Administration Department, the government wants to know whether the former officers informed the government about the flats they bought. The government also wants to know the sources of funds and if they declared the flats in property transactions.
The Adarsh Housing Society Scam
The society in Colaba, a plush locality in Mumbai, was originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and their kin but was later extended to 31 floors allegedly without mandatory permission. (Adarsh scam: A bigger land-grab plan)
The Adarsh Housing scam has made national headlines over the past few weeks and cost ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan his job. Three of his relatives were allotted flats in the high-rise. He was replaced by Prithviraj Chavan. (Heads roll over Adarsh scam: Chavan out)
Investigations by the media suggest that politicians, retired Army officers and senior bureaucrats colluded to corner flats in the building. The Army is investigating the role of some of its senior-most officers for their alleged role in the scam.
The society's occupation certificate was cancelled by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and its power and water supplies were cut by the civic body on November 3 after it was revealed that the building was constructed in alleged violation of rules. Two months ago, the Navy and Army also objected to the building on the grounds that it will give occupants a clear view of defence installations along Mumbai's coast. They are now exploring the option of demolishing the society after extensive evidence that it was built on defence land.
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