Adarsh panel issues summons to Society members

Mumbai, Feb 16 (PTI) The commission of inquiry formedby the Maharashtra government to probe alleged irregularitiesin the Adarsh Housing Society has set in motion the process bysending summons to the members of the society to file theiraffidavits.

The summons signed by the Secretary to the commissionN N Kumbare was sent to 25 members till yesterday after thepanel received no response to the notification put out by itin newspapers inviting affidavits from "persons interested inthe subject matter or affected or likely to be affected byit".

"Of the 103 members, summons has been sent to 25 sofar and the remaining would get it in two to three days", ahighly placed source in the Mantralaya said.

He said the affidavits would be scrutinized withineight days of receipt before deciding the further courseof action.

"On receipt of your affidavit the commission maydecide to summon you to appear before it and give evidence onoath if it considers necessary," the summons said.

The Justice J A Patil commission was constituted inJanuary following opposition''s mounting demand to bring tobook all those responsible for irregularities in allotment offlats in the building in upscale Colaba that was meant for warheroes and Kargil widows. More PTI VI SSG SK

The flats in the 31-storeyed building were cornered by several politicians, bureaucrats and three former defenceservice chiefs.

On January 16, the Ministry of Environment and Foresthad ordered demolition of the building for violation of thespirit of the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) laws. The Societymembers moved the Bombay High Court on February 14 against theMinistry''s order, saying it was "wrong in law".

CBI has also registered an FIR against 13 accusedincluding former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who was forcedto resign after his name cropped up in the case. Chavan''srelatives too had flats in the building.