Cong rivalry, army infighting led to ‘scam’: Adarsh society
Mumbai Mirror Bureau
Adarsh housing society on Saturday claimed the entire scam surrounding it was a result of rivalry between former Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and former defence minister A K Anthony. Claiming that they were also victims of infighting within the Army establishment and there was nothing illegal about the Colaba society, its members demanded that the building’s electricity and water supply be restored.
The MMRDA revoked the building’s Occupancy Certificate on October 30, 2010. Subsequently, BEST disconnected electricity supply on October 31, 2010, and BMC cut off water supply on November 2, 2010.
The society also levelled allegations against former army chief Gen V K Singh, who is now Union MoS for External affairs, for misleading Anthony. “In spite of information about the title of the land in question and the Defence Estates Officer’s reports, a one-man inquiry by a colonel and the opinion of then additional solicitor general of India Darius Khambata informing Army headquarters that the land does not belong to the Defence Ministry, Gen VK Singh brushed aside all facts and wrote to the Ministry of Defence in October 2010 to order an inquiry by CBI,” said Brig T K Sinha (retd), chairman, Adarsh society.
The society claimed Singh, who had just taken over from Gen Deepak Kapoor as Chief of Army Staff, was also attempting to settle scores with Kapoor through the Adarsh scam. Sinha added the defence ministry does not have any records to prove the title of the land belongs to them, as revealed in response to an RTI query.
“Since everything is clear about the title of the land, the government should allow us occupy the building and provide us water and electricity. MMRDA too has filed an affidavit before the Bombay High court stating there is no illegality in the building. Still, if the government wants, it can check for illegalities like unauthorised construction or missing environment clearance and take action accordingly. We have no problem with in that,” added Sinha.
The two-member judicial commission headed by retired High Court judge J A Patil in its report to the Maharashtra government had stated that the land is owned by the state government and there was no plan whatsoever to construct any building for housing war veterans or Kargil widows. It also charged various politicians, including former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), as well as top bureaucrats, for transgressing rules and regulations to get requisite clearances and favouring the society.
Adarsh housing society on Saturday claimed the entire scam surrounding it was a result of rivalry between former Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and former defence minister A K Anthony. Claiming that they were also victims of infighting within the Army establishment and there was nothing illegal about the Colaba society, its members demanded that the building’s electricity and water supply be restored.
The MMRDA revoked the building’s Occupancy Certificate on October 30, 2010. Subsequently, BEST disconnected electricity supply on October 31, 2010, and BMC cut off water supply on November 2, 2010.
“Adarsh society was targeted because of enmity between Shinde and Anthony. As Shinde approved the society when he was CM, his rival Anthony targeted us,” said R C Thakur, secretary, Adarsh society while addressing the media. At least 10 top Army and Navy personnel who are members of the scam-tainted society were also present.
The society also levelled allegations against former army chief Gen V K Singh, who is now Union MoS for External affairs, for misleading Anthony. “In spite of information about the title of the land in question and the Defence Estates Officer’s reports, a one-man inquiry by a colonel and the opinion of then additional solicitor general of India Darius Khambata informing Army headquarters that the land does not belong to the Defence Ministry, Gen VK Singh brushed aside all facts and wrote to the Ministry of Defence in October 2010 to order an inquiry by CBI,” said Brig T K Sinha (retd), chairman, Adarsh society.
The society claimed Singh, who had just taken over from Gen Deepak Kapoor as Chief of Army Staff, was also attempting to settle scores with Kapoor through the Adarsh scam. Sinha added the defence ministry does not have any records to prove the title of the land belongs to them, as revealed in response to an RTI query.
“Since everything is clear about the title of the land, the government should allow us occupy the building and provide us water and electricity. MMRDA too has filed an affidavit before the Bombay High court stating there is no illegality in the building. Still, if the government wants, it can check for illegalities like unauthorised construction or missing environment clearance and take action accordingly. We have no problem with in that,” added Sinha.
The two-member judicial commission headed by retired High Court judge J A Patil in its report to the Maharashtra government had stated that the land is owned by the state government and there was no plan whatsoever to construct any building for housing war veterans or Kargil widows. It also charged various politicians, including former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), as well as top bureaucrats, for transgressing rules and regulations to get requisite clearances and favouring the society.
