Seniors diluted my objections to Adarsh housing society: Saurav Ray

Saurav Ray, former defence estate officer and the original whistleblower in the alleged Adarsh housing scam, told the two-member judicial commission that his seniors had diluted his objections because they were members of the housing society.

“The principal director, defence estates southern command was the advisor of GOC in C Southern Command Lt General Sihota, who was a member of Adarsh. Many senior defence estate officers in southern command and DGDE were also members and had vested interest in diluting my objections and observations,” claimed Ray.

Ray had objected to the initial no-objection granted by the Army to Adarsh and had called it a security threat even when it was just a six-storey plan. In a letter dated November 19, 2003, to the director of audit of defence service, he had observed that the title of land claimed by the state is unclear and the society is dubious.

“I said so because Adarsh was using the name and façade of the welfare of former servicemen and Kargil martyrs. But, in reality, most of the members were civilians,” he claimed.