Adarsh housing scam: Chavan to meet Mukherjee tonight

Mukherjee, who was in Murshidabad in West Bengal, told television channels that he did not know much about the issue at the moment and would look into its details after his return to Delhi this evening.

The Finance Minister along with his cabinet colleague and Defence Minister A K Antony have been asked by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to submit a report on the scam. "I am yet to look at the details on the issue. I will prepare a report on it along with Antony," he said.

Chavan, who had yesterday offered to resign after an hour-long meeting with Gandhi, is likely to meet Mukherjee once he returns to the capital. Responding to late night summons from the Congress high command, Chavan flew here yesterday to meet Gandhi.

The meeting took place in the backdrop of three of Chavan's close relatives having been among the 103 allottees in the 31-storeyed Adarsh Group Housing Society building in Mumbai in which several politicians, three former defence service chiefs and bureaucrats have cornered flats originally meant for Kargil heroes.

51-year old Chavan, who was a surprise choice for Chief Ministership in December 2008, himself told reporters after the meeting that he had offered to resign. The party President would take a call on the issue. Action on Chavan's resignation would be taken after the report  is submitted.

When asked about the controversy, Mukherjee told reporters that there was no committee as such. "Chavan met Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi has asked me and Antony to look into the relevant papers and give our observations to her."

He said Ashok Chavan had expressed his desire to tender resignation to the Congress President.

"Before she takes a decision, she asked us to examine the papers and give our observations...How can I sitting in Murshidabad and Mr Antony sitting in Delhi meet. We will meet in Delhi," he said.