BY IANS,
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday registered a preliminary enquiry into Mumbai’s scam-hit 31-storey Adarsh housing society on a complaint filed by the defence ministry.
“During the course of the preliminary enquiry, all issues raised by the defence ministry will be looked into. If prima facie evidence of criminality is found, a regular case will be registered,” a CBI official said.
Among other things, the defence ministry has asked to look into issues concerning the issue of a no objection certificate, relinquishment of the land in possession of the army and the extent to which commitments for the welfare of defence personnel were complied with, the official added.
The environment ministry Friday issued a show cause notice to the Adarsh housing society for “unambiguously” violating coastal regulation zone (CRZ) laws and asked why it should not be demolished under section five of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
The society has been given two weeks time to reply, and it will be given one week to be heard by the environment ministry.
The scam relates to the controversial residential block being built in Mumbai’s upscale Colaba and in the neighbourhood of naval establishments. It was originally meant to be a six-storeyed apartment block for housing Kargil war heroes and widows.
However, it was surreptitiously converted into a plush 31-storeyed building. The society has over 100 members, including former service chiefs, senior serving army officials, bureaucrats, politicians and their kin.