Ex-CM was named accused in FIR filed by CBI in 2011

ACCORDING TO THE FIR, CHAVAN GOT INVOLVED IN A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY WHEN HE WAS STATE REVENUE MINISTER IN 2000

MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in its first information report filed on January 29, 2011, had named former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan as accused 13 in the Adarsh society case.

According to the FIR, Chavan got involved in a criminal conspiracy when he was the state revenue minister in 2000. His proposal that civilians be made members of the society was approved though his ulterior motive was to reportedly allow his relatives to secure flats in the society. RC Thakur, brigadier Madan Mohan Wanchu and Kanhaiyalal Gidwani were also involved in the plot, said the FIR.

The CBI said after the induction of civil members, state government officials expedited the process of land allotment. In 2009, then CM Chavan exempted the society from reserving 15% space for a recreational ground — an exemption not allowed by the previous government. In turn, Chavan secured membership for his relatives, according to the CBI. The FIR said Chavan abused his position to favour the society.

A case was filed on charges of conspiracy, cheating, forgery and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The CBI had recorded Chavan’s statement in the case. It had also questioned several people to ascertain the number of civilians who got flats in the society on his orders. They found that there were six such flats. Two were registered in the name of Chavan’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

In 2014, former governor K Sankaranarayanan refused sanctions to prosecute Chavan. The CBI had moved an application in a special court, seeking the approval to remove Chavan’s name from the list of accused, which it rejected.

In October 2015, the joint director of CBI, Mumbai, had sought sanctions to prosecute Chavan under section 197 (issuing or signing false certificate) of the criminal procedure code, based on fresh material, namely, the justice Patil commission report and the Bombay high court’s observations of the criminal revision application.