Shinde,secretary passed orders violating poll code: complaint

Singh has alleged,in his complaint,that files pertaining to allotment to the first 51 members have made a total of 11 rounds from one state government department to another on a single day — August 23,2004. Incidentally. the election code of conduct came into force the very next day,after which no orders could have been passed. “Usually when a file changes hands from one department to another,there is an inward-outward log that is maintained in the registry. No such log is available for the Adarsh files for August 23,” Singh said,adding that the proposal to allot flats to 51 members was approved the very day (according to the date on the files) after moving around 11 times through various channels,including the chief minister,his principal secretary and the revenue department. “In our complaint,we have said that each of the orders dated August 23 are back-dated orders with the actual orders having been passed during the election code of conduct.”

He has sought forensic examination of one of the revenue department documents,on which he alleges there is a clear indication of overwriting where the date has been changed from 24 to 23. The complaint also states that Shinde has passed orders to give land at 20 per cent of the market value on September 16,2004 even as the code of conduct was still in force. Further,the concessional rate of 20 per cent was reduced for the low-income category without the concurrence of the finance department whose permission is required for any proposal that would spell revenue loss for the state.

The complaint also alleges severe irregularities in the allotment made to Lala’s mother and daughter as well as to Major Khankhoje who has reportedly been recommended by Shinde himself.

“I am not concerned with Adarsh in anyway. My father was an ex-Army man and a member of the society in 1997. When he died,the membership was transferred to my mother. An inquiry is on and the facts will be out once it is over,” Lala said,adding that he doesn’t want to comment on the details.