Adarsh scam: Another babu pins blame on Vilasrao Deshmukh

Mumbai collector CV Oak had first named former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for ordering “tatkal” proceedings on a letter from Adarsh housing society promoters. On Monday, JK Gharat, deputy secretary for revenue and forest, too named Deshmukh for endorsing the matter.

On January 13, 2000, chief promoter of Adarsh Kanhailal Gidwani wrote to Ashok Chavan, then revenue minister, on the allotment of government land for the society. The letter carried notings from Deshmukh,  then CM, who had endorsed the letter and asked the revenue secretary to put up the proposal.

Last month, Oak said a letter dated March 6, 2000, written by Gharat, then undersecretary of the  revenue and forest department, to the superintendent of land records talks about the Colaba military area plot no. 6 and the adjoining land, which was then in army’s possession. It was at Deshmukh’s instance the letter got “tatkal” tag. Gidwani had requested Deshmukh to expedite the processing of the file.

Gidwani had said the society was in possession of the land in Block VI on which Adarsh stands. “I can’t say why I did not mention in my noting that the Gidwani’s statement was not true," said Gharat.