The two-member judicial panel set up to probe the Adarsh Housing Society scam on Thursday questioned Maharashtra government's silence on the ownership of the disputed land in south Mumbai. Retired High Court Justice J A Patil, who is heading the commission, said that the Army has submitted documents claiming that the land belongs to them but the state government is keeping silent. He said government should be more concerned and prompt. The matter came to light after the Ministry of Defence on Thursday submitted two development plans showing that the land where the 31-storey Adarsh Society stands at Colaba has been under its ownership even prior to 1937 as per the records. Advocate Dhiren Shah, appearing for the Defence Ministry said the two plans show that the land was with the Army even prior to 1937 and hence the society's claims that it had reclaimed the land from the state government in the 1970s cannot be correct. Meanwhile, several departments of the state government including the MMRDA, Urban Development and Environment department again sought time to submit all documents related to the Adarsh Society. The commission, which was expected to start recording evidence of the first witness in the case Brigadier Deepak Saxena, has adjourned the hearing till 2nd of next month.
News On AIR | April 28, 2011 2:31 PM
Adarsh scam: Panel questions Maharashtra govt over silence on land ownership