Adarsh scam: Maharashtra Govt. asks two bureaucrats to resign

Mumbai, Dec 28 (ANI): The Maharashtra Government has sought resignations of two bureaucrats for their alleged role in the controversial Adarsh Housing Society scam.

According to reports, State Information Commissioner Ramanand Tiwari and State Human rights commission member Subhash Lala have been asked to put down their papers after news surfaced that the relatives of the duo had flats in the Adarsh Housing Society.

"The government has asked the two bureaucrats to put in their papers," Chief Secretary JP Dange told reporters at Mantralaya here.

Tiwari was Urban Development secretary, when the Adarsh file was being processed, while Lala was secretary to the chief minister.

Earlier on December 21, the Bombay High Court slammed the Maharashtra Government over the controversial Adarsh Housing Society scam saying it is "a clear-cut case of manipulation" by its officers in which everybody who was supposed to clear the file was "gifted" a flat.

The 31-storey Adarsh Society, originally meant for Kargil war heroes, landed in controversy after media reports said several politicians, bureaucrats and defence personnel owned flats there.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had on November 15 registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) to probe the alleged role of former and serving Army officers, with the permission of Defence Minister A K Antony.

The plush housing Society, built on prime defence land, has been constructed in alleged violation of rules. It was originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and their kin, but was later extended to 31 floors without mandatory permission. (ANI)