Adarsh plot never reserved for defence, war heroes: Deshmukh

Mumbai, Jun 17: Union Minister for Rural Development and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today (June 17) said the Adarsh Society land belonged to the state and was never reserved for defence personnel or Kargil war heroes.

In an affidavit filed before the two-member Adarsh Commission, set up to probe irregularities in scam-tainted Adarsh Society, Deshmukh said, "The records maintained with the office of the Collector of Mumbai clearly show that the land belonged to the state government. The ownership of the land was never an issue at any stage so far I am concerned."

Deshmukh further said that there was no reservation on the Adarsh Society land for housing of Defence personnel or Kargil war heroes either under the Development Plan for Greater Mumbai or under any of the policies of the state government.

Deshmukh's statement is similar to that of Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who filed an affidavit in this regard last week.

Referring to allegations levelled by activist Santosh Daundkar in an affidavit before the Commission, the former Chief Minister denied that he had continuously kept meeting one of the promoters of Adarsh Society, Kanaihyalal Gidwani.

"I deny that it was on the insistence of Gidwani that the Revenue department was asked to put up the case of allotment of land to Adarsh," Deshmukh said in a 15-page affidavit.

Adarsh had made several requests for allotment of land to various Ministers/Chief Ministers from time to time, he said, adding that on a request made to him he merely endorsed "please call for the proposal and put up", which he claimed was a routine noting.

PTI