Guilty officials to face action in housing scam: Ajit Pawar

MUMBAI - Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Tuesday said action would be initiated against retired or serving bureaucrats if they are indicted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Adarsh housing society scam.

“The CBI has also begun a serious probe into the matter, and it will expose the roles played by officials. The centre should take action against central officials, and we will take action against state officials,” Pawar saidd.

In a related development, former police officer-turned-lawyer Y.P. Singh and social activist Santosh Daundkar Monday moved an application in a court seeking directions to the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau to register a case against the promoters of 31-storeyed Adarsh housing society, politicians and bureaucrats.

“The application moved before the Metropolitan Magistrate, Esplanade, is expected to come up for hearing Dec 1,” Daundkar said.

Earlier Tuesday, when a CBI team met Chief Secretary J.P. Dange, he said the state government was in favour of action against indicted officials.

The three-member team led by CBI joint director (Western Region) Rishi Raj Singh submitted a formal request to the state government to hand over certain documents from various departments which handled the clearances given to the Adarsh housing society.

In their application, lawyer Singh and Daundkar have sought a police investigation against the former urban development secretary and present Information Commissioner Ramanand Tiwari, Congress leader Kanhaiyalal Gidwani and Adarsh housing society promoter R.C. Thakur.