CBI to hear arguments on cognizance of Adarsh scam charge sheet on Jul 24

MUMBAI: The special CBI court would commence hearing arguments on taking cognizance of the charge sheet filed against 13 accused in the Adarsh scam, including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, on July 24.

The matter came up for a routine mention today after which designated CBI court judge M V Kulkarni adjourned the hearing.

On July 24, CBI counsel Bharat Badami will begin arguing on the grounds for the court to take cognizance of the charge sheet and issuing summons to the accused.

On inquiry, the court was told that the Bombay High Court has fixed July 18 for next hearing of the PILs in the scam seeking monitoring of the investigations by the court and invoking provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act against those involved.

The CBI had filed a 10,000-page charge sheet in the case last Wednesday.

The same day, the Bombay High Court had allowed the Ministry of Defence to intervene in the PILs in the scam and asked it to file within two weeks its response to Maharashtra government's stand that CBI cannot probe it as neither the state government nor the court had handed over the case to the Central agency, as required by law.

Counsel for MoD Kevic Setalvad had also opposed the state government's claim that the Adarsh land belonged to it.