CBI to file FIR in Adarsh scam

NEW DELHI: The investigation into the Adarsh Housing Society scam appears to have made some headway, with the CBI stumbling upon evidence of alleged forgery and manipulation of documents on the part of some Army officers and bureaucrats.

Some of the documents seized by the CBI, highly-placed sources said, hinted at forgery having allegedly been committed by a few defence ministry officials in criminal conspiracy with bureaucrats of Maharashtra government and private individuals.

“The FIR in the case would be filed soon. We have a firm case now,” a senior CBI official said on condition of anonymity. The official said a decision on registering the case under the provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act would be taken once a clearance from the legal department of the CBI is obtained.

Coming under fire over alleged corruption and abuse of official position by senior defence officials, defence minister AK Antony had sought a CBI probe into the scam relating to Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society, in which some senior military officers, including former Army Chiefs,

Gen Deepak Kapoor and Gen NC Vij, and retired Navy chief, Admiral Madhavendra Singh, had flats allotted in their names.

The three ex-chiefs have since said they were surrendering their flats. The CBI had on November 15 registered a preliminary enquiry (PE).

The housing society, built on prime defence land, was constructed in alleged violation of various rules and regulations. The building was originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and their kin, but was later extended to 31 floors.

“We are building a water-tight case leaving no loopholes or loose ends,” the official said. The defence ministry has, among other things, requested the CBI to look into issues concerning no-objection certificate, relinquishing of land in possession of the Army and the extent to which commitments for welfare of defence personnel were complied with.