CBI likely to file case in Adarsh Housing scam tomorrow

A CBI spokesman in Delhi said a letter from Defence Ministry asking the agency to conduct the probe has been received. CBI is in process of collection of relevant records and documents and that "no case has been registered as yet", he added.

CBI officials in Mumbai said a team would be going to Delhi head office tomorrow for discussion on Adarsh scam. "Only after discussion, further course of action will be decided," the officials said.

Official sources said a case was likely to be registered tomorrow when CBI Director Ashwini Kumar, who is at present out of country attending an Interpol Conference, returns.

Defence Minister A K Antony had announced on Tuesday that a CBI probe into the housing society scam, in which some senior army officials, including former army chiefs Gen Deepak Kapoor and N C Vij, too had flats allotted in their names.

CBI, which had made an in-house investigations into the case following complaints since October, will apprise the officials at the headquarters about the findings from the documents received from several departments, the sources said.

CBI had sought documents relating to the Society from various departments of the government, Indian Navy and Army and the Society, the sources added.

"While we had received over 4,000-page documents from the city collector's office, the Society members have sent us a letter requesting more time to submit the documents.

We have also received documents from other departments," a senior CBI official said. Adarsh Housing Society members' lawyer Satish Maneshinde had said "we have given certain documents to CBI and have sought further time to submit the remaining. We have also written to MMRDA officials asking them to take back the notice revoking the occupancy certificate of the society.

"The notice violated principles of natural justice. The building was constructed legally and necessary sanction had been granted by authorities including the MMRDA."

CBI officials said "we are verifying all the information and documents, after which a decision would be made on the course of action. Before registering a case, we need to gather information."

The plush housing Society, built on prime defence land, has been constructed in alleged violation of rules. The building was originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and their kin but was later extended 31 floors without mandatory permission.

The scam has already taken its first political casualty with Ashok Chavan resigning as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.