The Adarsh probe commission has indicted seven people saying there was a quid pro quo for favours they granted. A look at the role some of them played. ASHOK CHAVAN (Then CM) Chavan first signed on the file on June 2,2000 as the revenue minister to include 40 per cent civilians in the housing society that was earlier envisaged for retired defence personnel. This,however,was not seen by the Commission as a favour to the society. His second signature,also as revenue minister,came on May 21,2002,on the papers sanctioning illegal restriction of the width of Captain Prakash Pethe Marg (front of Adarsh) to 18.40 m,making the land available for Adarsh CHS. Then principal secretary (revenue) D K Sankaran had noted on the file saying that letter of intent could be granted provided CRZ clearance was secured from environment ministry. Chavans third signature came on a file to exclude 15 per cent recreational ground from the land on June 2,2009,when he was CM and also in charge of UDD. This helped Adarsh get extra FSI on the 15 per cent land. This,the Commission inferred,helped Adarsh CHS to expand membership. The reward: Apartments to Seema Sharma,wife of Chavans spouse Amritas brother Vinod; Madanlal Sharma,brother of Chavans father-in-law Manoharlal Sharma; and late Bhagwati Sharma,Chavans mother-in-law. They later surrendered memberships. Commissions observation: It was difficult to accept Chavans contention that he didnt know his relatives had applied for flats. BABASAHEB KUPEKAR (former Speaker) On being approached by the Adarsh promoters along with a few senior Army officers,he wrote a letter to the then CM Vilasrao Deshmukh on July 29,2005,to allow the society to have additional FSI to be able to accommodate all the members since the present FSI was not sufficient. He wrote another letter on August 5 requesting the CM to allow him to dispose of the flat he had secured in discretionary quota and on the same day applied for Adarsh membership that was granted. The reward: A flat admeasuring 1076 sq ft in the building. observation: He was ineligible to become a member of the society since he was holding a governments discretionary quota flat. He also did not have the prescribed income limit. PRADEEP VYAS (Collector,Mumbai) He committed breach of rules since he processed the application of his bureaucrat wife Seema Vyas for membership. The reward: Flat for wife,then ESIS Commissioner. observation: Failed to maintain absolute integrity. JAIRAJ PHATAK (Municipal Commissioner) Noted on the file on October 20,2009,that there was no need to refer the regularisation of the unauthorised 28th floor of the Adarsh building to the high-rise committee. Instead,he referred it to MMRDA for approval. He had the discretion to accept or reject the committees recommendation,but had no discretion to bypass it. The concern: Son Kanishka had Adarsh membership. observation: Pathaks anxiety was that the completion of the Adarsh building should not be delayed as his son had membership. Son took possession of the flat in 2010. So,there was quid pro quo in Pathaks action. Who else erred Vilasrao Deshmukh: Panel says his decisions on allotment of letter of intent to Adarsh and granting of FSI of the adjoining 2669 sqm BEST plot to the society improper. Shivajirao ilengekar Patil: Panel says undue haste was shown by him in the decision regarding allotment of land to the society in 2004 without appropriate authority. Sushil kumar Shinde: Also accused of undue haste and overlooking objections regarding land allotment. Sunil Tatkare/Rajesh Tope: Panel expressed displeasure at the conduct of both NCP ministers,who were MoS of Urban Development at different times.
