Vilasrao Deshmukh files affidavit before Adarsh inquiry commission

Mumbai, June 17(ANI): Union Rural Development Minister and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Friday filed an affidavit before the two-member Adarsh inquiry commission claiming that the Adarsh Housing Society land in Mumbai belonged to the Maharashtra government and was never reserved for defence personnel or Kargil war heroes.

"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 said in the 15-page affidavit.

He also denied allegations that he had continuously held meetings with Kanaihyalal Gidwani, one of the promoters of the scam-tainted cooperative society.

"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.

"The suggestion that I ordered the allotment of land to Adarsh in an irregular and/or improper manner to favour Gidwani is fully mischievous," he added.

In 2010, the media had brought to public the alleged violations of rules at various phases of construction in the Adarsh Housing Society.

Questions were raised on the manner in which apartments in the building were allocated to bureaucrats, politicians and army personnel who had nothing to do with Kargil War and the way in which clearances were obtained for the construction of the building of the society.

The society high-rise was constructed in Colaba, which is considered a sensitive coastal area by the Indian Defence forces and houses various Indian Defense establishments.

The society is also alleged to have violated the Union Environment Ministry rules. (ANI)