Allotment of land to Adarsh: official names Deshmukh, Chavan

The controversial Adarsh Housing Society was alloted the land in south Mumbai in 2003 upon the directions of the then Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister, though it had not complied with all requirements, an official today told the judicial panel which is probing the scam.

"A Letter of Intent was issued on January 18, 2003, allotting the land to Adarsh even when it had not complied with all requirements, on the basis of a note written by Principal Secretary (Revenue) which had been approved by the Revenue Minister and Chief Minister," J K Gharat, deputy secretary, Revenue and Forest, said.

Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was then the Maharashtra Chief Minister, and Ashok Chavan was in charge of Revenue ministry.

The 31-storey society allegedly came up in violation of civic and environmental rules.

Chavan has been named as an accused in the case lodged by the CBI. But the central agency has earlier said that there is no evidence against Deshmukh.

Gharat told the Commission today that a Government Resolution dated July 9, 1999 had specified the requirements that need to be fulfilled by a society or person before a government land is alloted.

"When Adarsh was alloted the land in 2003 the society had not complied with all the requirements," Gharat said.