Mumbai:
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde appeared before a two-member commission probing the Adarsh Society scam.
Mr Shinde was the Chief Minister between 2001 and 2003 when he cleared many files including allotment of land to Adarsh. It was during his tenure that the housing society received its most controversial clearance - a fake green go-ahead - which has led the Environment Ministry to call for the building's demolition.
Former chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ashok Chavan are also scheduled to appear before the commission later this month.
Last month, a Mumbai court had granted bail to seven other accused in the case.
They included former IAS officer Pradeep Vyas, ex-deputy secretary in Urban Development Department PV Deshmukh, retired Brigadier MM Wanchoo, former defence estates officer RC Thakur, retired Major General TK Kaul and former legislator Kanhaiyalal Gidwai.
The scam pertains to alleged irregularities in construction and allotment of apartments in the 32-storeyed high rise, originally meant for families of Kargil War heroes, in the upmarket Colaba area in south Mumbai.