Adarsh Housing Society scam blamed on Deshmukh

Mumbai, May 20: Pinning the blame on former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, suspended State Information Commissioner and Adarsh Housing Society scam accused Ramanand Tiwari has told the judicial panel, probing the case that it was Deshmukh who had approved all proposals pertaining to the high rise in South Mumbai.

Tiwari, in an affidavit filed before the two-member inquiry commission, set up by the Maharashtra government in January to probe into the irregularities of the Society, has said that all proposals pertaining to the Adarsh Society "followed the same route" as others and was sent to the minister of the concerned departments.

"Deshmukh while being Chief Minister was also heading the Urban Development Department (UDD). The Society's proposal seeking deletion of the land reserved for BEST and changing it to residential type was forwarded to Deshmukh. Only after his approval, notification dates March 3, 2006 was issued deleting the BEST reservation," the affidavit states.

Tiwari, who was then Principal Secretary of UDD, further claimed that in September 2004, a reference from the state Revenue and Forest Department, which was then headed by Ashok Chavan, was received by the UDD mentioning Adarsh's request to use the Floor Space Index (FSI) of the BEST land after its conversion to residential.

"The reference was also processed and sent to Deshmukh. Only after his approval, the reservation was deleted and the Society was allowed to use the extra FSI," the affidavit states.

Refuting allegations of undue favors given by state government officials to the Society, Tiwari said, "there was no vested interest to guide the decision and no rule was relaxed."

"The Adarsh file passed through me in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. At all the stages the files were cleared in accordance with rules and procedure. No special favour was shown to get membership for my son," it stated.

Tiwari's son owns a flat in the Society, which was originally meant for Kargil war widows and martyrs.

Deshmukh, who has been summoned by the Commission to appear as witness, is yet to file his affidavit clarifying his stand. The Commission in its summons had said the witness if wishes to not appear before the panel could file an affidavit before May 23.

PTI