‘Chavan met other accused on June 2, 2000’

MUMBAI: The synopsis of the chargesheet filed by the CBI in the Adarsh case says that former CM Ashok Chavan returned Rs 69 lakh paid by the son of a close associate Jayant Shah. “Of the said amount, Rs 55 lakh and Rs 14 lakh was returned after a PIL was filed in the matter on November 19, 2010,” the chargesheet reads.
The document also states that Madanlal Sharma, Chavan’s father-in-law’s brother, was not entitled to become a member of the society as he already owned a flat in his name in Andheri and this was a violation of a GR.The chargesheet says that Chavan had sought induction of civilian members in order to obtain favours for his close relatives. His sister-in-law, Seema Vinod Sharma, had made an application to become a member of the society. Her name figures in the list of 71 members prepared on August 23, 2002. She was allotted a flat in the society. Elaborating on Chavan’s role, the chargesheet says that as state revenue minister he met with other accused—chief promoter R C Thakur, president of Adarsh CHS Brigadier (retd) M M Wanchoo and then MLC Kanhaiyalal Gidwani — on June 2, 2000.
“This is evident from the letter dated June 2, 2000 submitted by the Adarsh society to Chavan immediately after the meeting along with the list of 31 members from the defence services and the willingness to accommodate 40% civilian members as against the original list of 40 members from defence service which was submitted on April 10 2000 to the city collector.’’ This resulted in a change of complexion of the society and allowed the entry of civilians as members in the society.
(Inputs by Rajshri Mehta)
Nine of 150 witnesses give statements before magistrate
Of the 150 witnesses, nine have given their statements before a magistrate which has more evidentiary value in the trial. Among them are Major General S S Jog who said he was "intimidated" by the then GOC and accused Major General A R Kumar into signing a letter addressed to the Mumbai collector, which was considered as an NOC from the ministry of defence for the construction of Adarsh society
Another witness is Brig Ajay Saxena, who wrote to the collector seeking details from the society of approval given as the building could pose a security threat. Col L C Midha, administrative commandant during the tenure of then GOC and accused Maj Gen T K Kaul, Dattatraya Palkar, Ajit Kulkarni, Sudhakar Nangnure, who was the officer of special duty during accused Ramanand Tiwari's tenure as principal secretary UDD, S R Kini, who was the deputy secretary UDD during Tiwari's tenure, Ashok Shintre, chief engineer development plan department of the BMC, and Devendra Desai. Another witness is Nandkumar Narayan Narvekar, assistant town planner UDD, earlier arrested and released on bail in the related Adarsh missing files case. Sources said the CBI was contemplating options to close investigations in that case.