Adarsh scam: CBI to ask defence criteria for giving land

The anti-corruption unit of Central Bureau of Investigation probing the Adarsh scam will be writing to the defence department asking it to explain in detail the criteria adopted while sanctioning the land under its ‘possession’.

Though the defence department claims that the land on which the infamous Adarsh society is located belongs to them, so far they have not been able to submit ownership records.

They have been maintaining that the land was handed to them by the state in the 1970s in lieu of the land that the state took from them near Santa Cruz.

State, on the other hand, has maintained that the land belongs to them.

The CBI officials said that the defence department submitted an 1847 map, proclaiming that the said land at that time belonged to them. Sources said that beyond that so far they have not been able to submit anything concrete, establishing their rights over it.

“This leaves a lot of grey areas about the ownership (of the land),” said an official.

Sources added that the said criteria will then be used to find out if the issuance of the clearance for Adarsh given by the defence officers was legal or illegal.

CBI had earlier filed a preliminary enquiry based on the complaint filed by the Ministry of Defence.

The defence ministry has also mentioned irregularities by the officials of Department of Defence Estate and Area Commander in providing the NOC to Adarsh society within Colaba, which overlooks defence installations, compromising nation’s security.