Adarsh scam hearing: Bombay HC allows MoD to intervene

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday allowed the Ministry of Defence to intervene in the PILs in the Adarsh scam and asked it to file within two weeks its response to Maharashtra government's stand that CBI cannot probe it.

Counsel for MoD Kevic Setalvad opposed the state government's claim that the Adarsh land belonged to it and that the CBI cannot probe the scam. On his pleading, the Court allowed the MoD to intervene in the matter.

After hearing the arguments, Justice S A Bobade and Justice Mridula Bhatkar directed the MoD to file an affidavit within two weeks and adjourned the hearing on the PILs till July 18. The Court allowed the MoD access to all documents to enable it to file its reply.

Counsels for Adarsh Society and state government Shekhar Naphade and A Y Sakhare opposed MoD lawyer's plea to intervene in the matter, saying the Adarsh Inquiry Commission had already ruled that the land in question belonged to the state.

The Maharashtra government and Adarsh Society have contested the CBI's jurisdiction to probe the alleged scam on the ground that neither the state government nor the High Court had handed over the investigation to the Central agency, as required under the law.

The judges said the court would have to examine whether any order was passed earlier asking the CBI to probe the Adarsh scam.

The Court was hearing PILs filed by social activists Simpreet Singh and Pravin Wategaonkar seeking monitoring of the probe by the High Court and invoking provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case.