Daundkar had made allegations against three former Maharashtra Chief Ministers without any evidence, the judicial panel probing the Adarsh Housing Society scam has prohibited him from examining witnesses.
Observing that social activist Santosh Daundkar had made allegations against three former Maharashtra Chief Ministers without any evidence, the judicial panel probing the Adarsh Housing Society scam has prohibited him from examining witnesses.
The order was passed at the hearing of application filed by Adarsh's lawyer, Saket Mone, contending that Daundkar cannot cross-examine any witnesses who depose before the commission, because he was not a practising lawyer, or someone who could be personally affected by the case.
The commission, headed by Justice (retd) J A Patil held that Daundkar, in his affidavits and during his deposition, had made allegations against several bureaucrats and three former Chief Ministers. But "the allegations have been made on the basis of suspicion and without any documentary evidence". Nor did he have any personal stake in the case.
"He (Daundkar) has admitted that he got affidavits drafted by advocate. Daundkar is unable to explain meanings of certain words in the affidavit. Thus we feel that he would not be in a position to assist the commission and giving him the opportunity to cross-examine would only result in waste of valuable time," the commission said.
Daundkar's affidavit accuses former Chief Ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ashok Chavan of flouting rules to favour Adarsh. (He has also filed a PIL with regard to Adarsh scam in the Bombay High Court).
Adarsh, a 31-storey building in the upscale south Mumbai, was originally meant for the kin of martyrs of Kargil war, but it is alleged that others, including some high-ranking bureaucrats, got flats in it. It is also accused of violating environmental laws.
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