Mumbai: Maharashtra governor C. Vidyasagar Rao on Thursday gave his sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute former chief minister Ashok Chavan in connection with the Adarsh Housing Society scam.
A few days earlier the BJP-led government in the state had recommended action against the Congress leader.
This is the second such corruption case that will be taken up by investigation agencies following the arrest of former NCP MP Sameer Bhujbal for alleged involvement in a money-laundering case.
However, Mr Chavan has termed the move a political vendetta by the BJP.
Rubbishing the Opposition’s “vendetta” allegations, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said a new set of facts had emerged which clearly proved quid pro quo — that Mr Chavan had allegedly given permission for additional floor space in exchange for flats for his relatives in Adarsh — which is a society meant for war veterans.
“The governor gave his consent to the CBI to prosecute him after seeking opinion from the advocate-general, then from where does the question of political vendetta arise?” he said.
New facts emerge in Adarsh scam
Even while the earlier governor rejected permission and the CBI went to the high court stating that they don’t want to file a chargesheet, the court didn’t accept this plea and directed the CBI to file a chargesheet,” Mr Fad-navis said.
Maharashtra advocate-general Shrihari Aney said, “The governor has taken the decision based on the new facts and material produced before him by the CBI. Justice J.A. Patil (Retd)’s report on Adarsh played an important role in the decision.”
A statement issued by the governor’s office mentioned that the action had been taken as per rules.
“Maharashtra governor C. Vidyasagar Rao on Thursday gave his sanction to CBI to prosecute former chief minister of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan under Section 197 of the CrPC for offences under Sections 120-B (conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of IPC in the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society case,” it said.
Former governor K. Sankarnarayanan had refused permission to the CBI to prosecute Mr Chavan under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly misusing his official position to grant favours to the Adarsh society in December 2013. The CBI had initially moved the trial court seeking to drop Mr Chavan’s name from the list of accused on the ground that the governor had refused sanction. The CBI court, however, had rejected the plea. Later, the investigating agency filed a revised application in the high court.
The appeal came up for hearing before Justice M.L. Tahiliyani and he also dismissed it observing that the CBI court rightly had rejected the CBI’s plea.
Mr Chavan had again moved Bombay high court with an appeal requesting the court to recall its earlier order rejecting the CBI’s application to drop his name from the list of accused in the scam. Mr Chavan in that appeal had contended that the chargesheet of the case was not before the high court but still Justice Tahiliyani, while dismissing the CBI’s application last November, had observed that the chargesheet not only alleged conspiracy but also referred to Mr Chavan’s individual acts.
