Ashok Chavan in another quota flat row

There is more embarrassment for disgraced former chief minister Ashok Chavan.

A petition filed in the Bombay high court alleges that his mother-in-law Bhagwati Sharma, who was allotted a flat in Adarsh society, was also allotted another 800 sq ft one under the chief minister’s quota in Kingston Building, Powai.

A division bench of Justice PV Hardas and Justice MN Gilani posted it for hearing after vacation. Filed by former journalist Ketan Tirodkar, the petition has named Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Prakash Javadekar, among others saying, in the last 20 years several politicians and their kin have been allotted more than one flat under the chief minister’s quota in Mumbai and Pune.

“I have learnt from the offices of additional collector in Pune and Mumbai that most of the flats/apartments allotted from the chief minister quota have gone in favour of kin and kith of politicians in the last 20 years,” Tirodkar said.

Tirodkar added, “I am committed to produce the records if state denies such allotments. Some symbolic cases have been presented herein and there are many more such cases. This amounts to cheating and breach of public trust.”

The petition has urged direction for investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act and under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.