Adarsh scam: CBI gets nod to prosecute Ashok Chavan

By Syona Sachdeva

New Delhi: In a major development, Vidyasagar Rao, Maharashtra Governor on Thursday sanctioned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute Ashok Chavan, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister for alleged involvement in the Adarsh scam.

The CBI approached the Governor after getting 'fresh evidence' against the former Chief Minister.

The Adarsh housing scam case was earlier closed in December 2013 when the then Governor K Sankaranarayan refused the sanction to prosecute Chavan.

Chavan had earlier said, "the BJP Government is using CBI for political vendetta. We will make our next move considering legal recourse available."

Adarsh Housing Society is a posh building constructed for the welfare of war widows and India's Ministry of Defense personnel but over the years, politicians, bureaucrats, and military officers secretly bent the rules regarding the ownership of flats.

The scam erupted in 2010 forcing the Chief Minister to resign from his post.

Lack of sanction for prosecution compelled the CBI to approach approached the trial court. But the refusal by the CBI court led the agency to move to Bombay High Court.

The High Court too dismissed CBI's application last November observing that the Governor refused sanction for prosecution on conspiracy charges under the Indian Penal Code but the former Chief Minister could still be prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act.