2 IAS officers suspended for Adarsh role

MUMBAI: Maharashtra government announced on Thursday the suspension of two IAS officers allegedly involved in the Adarsh scam. The government announced in the assembly that Jayraj Phatak and Pradeep Vyas have been placed under suspension pending CBI enquiry against them.

Secretary (expenditure) in the finance department, Pradeep Vyas was arrested by CBI on Wednesday for his alleged role in the scam when he was the collector of Mumbai. Jayraj Phatak, the then municipal commissioner of Mumbai, allegedly played a role in providing sanctions to Adarsh Housing Society. CBI sources did not make it clear whether Phatak would be arrested soon, but indicated that more arrests may take place in the case next week.

The CBI presented its status report in the investigation of Adarsh scam in Bombay high court on Thursday. The investigating agency gave details of all the arrests that have taken place and its findings in the case so far. After the status report was submitted, the court asked the members of the Adarsh society to surrender the building to the Ministry of Defence.

“There is nothing wrong in accepting your (society’s) mistake and surrendering before the law. You may have committed the mistake then but there can be a change of heart. You are not murderers or terrorists or hardened criminals.Give the building back to Defence Ministry,” division bench of Justices PB Majmudar and R.D. Dhanuka said.