Adarsh Society moves HC, seeks de-freezing of bank accounts

MUMBAI: The controversial Adarsh Society in South Mumbai today moved the Bombay High Court seeking de-freezing of its two bank accounts.

On January 31, after lodging FIR against 13 persons including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in the Adarsh scam case, CBI had frozen two State Bank of India accounts of the Society.

The accounts have balance of over Rs 5 lakh, the Society's petition says.

"The Society is not an accused in the case and no allegation of any nature has been made in the FIR against the Society in connection with any of the accused," it states, adding that Society needs money as it is incurring legal expenses of about Rs two lakh a month.

"The freezing of accounts by CBI is illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional and has been done without following the due process of law," the Society's lawyer, advocate Satish Maneshinde, said.

The case was mentioned before the division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A R Joshi, which directed that it be placed before the bench of Justices B H Marlapalle and R V More, which is already hearing another case related to Adarsh.

CBI has registered a case against Chavan and 12 others including retired army officials, bureaucrats and state government officials; alleging criminal conspiracy, fraud and misuse of official powers in allotment of plot to the Adarsh Society.