Former Union minister Suresh Prabhu denies involvement in Adarsh scam

Former Union minister Suresh Prabhu today washed his hands off the Adarsh scam, saying that he never gave any permission for the project during his tenure in the Union cabinet.

"I never gave any permissions for this project during my tenure as the environment minister," Prabhu said from Singapore.

Prabhu, a former Shiv Sena MP who is a member of the Adarsh Housing Society, said that he joined the Society as an MP but when the NDA was not in power.

"So, there is no question of me influencing any allotment," he said.

"I was not the promoter nor the office-bearer of the Society. I borrowed money from a bank and all the documents were verified before granting me loan," he added.

Prabhu said that his application was scrutinised and verified by the Mumbai city collector. "I followed the same procedure which is a normal routine for applying for membership in such societies."

"If any irregularity regarding the land had been brought to my notice, I would never have become a member. If there is indeed any irregularity, I am a victim," he claimed.