Probe assured into Salunke Vihar row

The Delhi-based Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) has agreed to conduct an enquiry into the alleged irregularities at the Salunke Vihar Army Welfare Co-op Housing Society (AWCHS), a housing complex constructed by them in the early 1980s.

The move comes after DNA, in a series of reports (Nov 13-16) highlighted the alleged irregularities in the society brought to their notice by whistle-blowers, who are ex-servicemen as well as residents of the society.

“We have forwarded copies of the DNA reports to the department concerned. An enquiry will be conducted. Since it is a very old case, we have to check the records and understand the issue,” deputy managing director of AWHO, Colonel Narendra Bhushan, told DNA.

The controversy over this high-profile society of former defence officers has erupted at a time when a section of present and former defence officers have been accused of corruption charges in land deals.

The key allegations pertain to the unauthorised transfer of land belonging to the government of Maharashtra through fraudulent changes in land records, violation of the conditions of allotment by the Pune district collector with respect to the number of dwelling units to be constructed and sold as well as the role played by AWHO.

Cases of stamp duty evasion by residents of the society are also being investigated by deputy inspector general of stamps & registrations, Chintamani Joshi.

The AWHO had maintained a stoic silence about executing a sale deed with the society in 1997 (transferring the land to the society) and allowing the society to function as a co-operative housing society, rather than a welfare tenement society, as is the procedure laid down by them. Managing director of AWHO, Major General S Narsimhan, was not available for comment.

Story so far

>    Land was sought by the Delhi-based AWHO in Pune from the government of Maharashtra for constructing welfare housing tenements.
>    Survey no 19/1/2 Kondhwa Khurd, Haveli, Pune, which was 33.5 acres, was eventually granted by the collector of Pune at an occupancy price of Rs3,35,000.
>    The collector issued orders (June 30, 1980) for the release of the land to AWHO with a number of stringent and mandatory conditions, breach of which would lead to the takeover of the land and buildings by the state government without compensation.
>    It was made clear that ownership of the land would remain with the state government.
>    The land has since been transferred to the AWCHS by Dilip Band, divisional commissioner (order dated April 18, 2010), which is being criticised by the whistle-blowers as arbitrary and illegal.