Adarsh: CBI didn't inform UD about missing hard disk, says CM

Mumbai, Aug 2: The CBI did not inform the Urban Development Department about a missing computer hard disk used in preparing a note-sheet of the controversial Adarsh building, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan informed the state Assembly here today (Aug 2).

"The CBI did not inform the UD about the case pertaining to the missing hard disk," Chavan said, in a written reply to a question by Bala Nandgaonkar (MNS) and others.

"However, the CBI team probing the Adarsh case, has recovered a hard disk on May 9, 2011. The CBI has also taken into possession hard disks of 9 computers in UD on May 12, 2011 for examination," the Chief Minister said.

Hard disk of another computer has been handed over to CBI on July 11 this year, Chavan said.

Nandgaonkar wanted to know whether it was true that on on May 16 this year, the CBI did not inform the special court, hearing the Adarsh case, about the missing hard disk.

Earlier, Shiv Sena members created noisy scenes in the House, alleging that Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane, during his tenure as chief minister in September 1999, had sought a speedy inquiry and submission of a report into the ownership and other details of the land, where the controversial Adarsh Housing Society stands.

Pointing to the statement of a senior revenue official before the two-member inquiry commission, the opposition legislators said the chief promoter of Adarsh Society had on September 21, 1999 sent a letter to the then chief minister, seeking allotment of land.

"The then chief minister had referred the letter to the Revenue and Forest departments with an endorsement made in hand writing saying ''submit report immediately''.

"The endorsement was made by Narayan Rane, who was the CM then," the official had told the panel.

PTI