Jobless chawl dweller owns Adarsh flat

The CBI had on Monday raided Kedari’s house and seized documents pertaining to the Adarsh society deal. Vidya Kulkarni,Superintendent of CBI-ACB,Pune,who was in Mumbai on Tuesday for an official meeting,confirmed that documents found in Kedari’s house had revealed that he stood as a benami for Nayyar for booking the flat. The officers had detained Kedari on Monday,but released him in the evening.

The CBI suspects Nayyar had booked the apartment in the name of Kedari who does not have any known source of income. Sources said Kedari used to deliver vegetables at the house of Nayyar,who is also a former chief executive of Khadki Cantonment Board.

Kedari told Newsline he had booked the Adarsh society flat in 2005 under the Scheduled Caste (SC) quota. “I am poor,but I had a dream to buy a flat. I came across an advertisement about Adarsh society and applied for a flat under the SC quota. I raised Rs 71 lakh for purchasing the flat with the help of five-six persons who are very close to me. All of them are like my parents. I have given their details to the CBI. I have purchased the flat legally by submitting all essential documents like income-tax returns,caste certificate,income certificate,domicile etc. I have shared all these details with the CBI. I have not done any scam,” he said.

Asked about his source of income,Kedari said he is into vegetable business but does not own any stall or shop. People who know him say he is unemployed and earns some money by doing petty jobs.

Incidentally,he is also closely associated with Sangita Gawli,BJP member in Khadki Cantonment. Gawli said Kedari used to visit her house and even help in day-to-day chores. “At times,he used to put up banners and hoardings for the party but he’s more close to the Dalit organisations. We were shocked to know about the CBI raid at his home. He was unemployed and the news of his owning a flat in Adarsh society is a surprise to us,” she said.