ADARSH SCAM: HC REJECTS CHAVAN PLEA

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rejected a plea by former chief minister Ashok Chavan in the Adarsh Society scam. Chavan had challenged the High Court ruling refusing permission to the CBI to delete former chief Minister’s name as an accused in the charge-sheet in the scam. The CBI had approached the court in November 2014 with a plea seeking to drop Chavan's name from the Adarsh Society case chargesheet on grounds that the governor had declined to sanction his prosecution. Rejecting the CBI's plea, Justice M.L. Tahaliyani had then ruled that the governor had refused permission to prosecute Chavan on the conspiracy charges, but he (Chavan) could be prosecuted under corruption charges. In December 2014, Chavan had moved the Bombay High Court against the ruling. The CBI charge-sheet has alleged conspiracy by Chavan and questioned his actions as revenue minister and then as chief minister at the relevant time. Among other things, Chavan has been accused of suggesting inclusion of civilians in the Adarsh housing society, meant for defence personnel, in an alleged bid to get flats allotted to his relatives. The latest development implies that Chavan would have to stand the trial in the Adarsh Society scam case; this is a major setback to the newly appointed Maharashtra Congress President. In 2012, the CBI had lodged a charge-sheet against 13 persons, including Chavan, accusing them of various wrongdoings, including conspiracy, for their role in getting the land allotted for the 31-storey Adarsh CHS building in the prime Colaba area of south Mumbai. Later on, several politicians &