HC dismisses Adarsh Society plea for de-freezing bank accounts

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by the controversial Adarsh Housing Society seeking de-freezing of its bank accounts.

The CBI had in January frozen two bank accounts of the Society after registering a case against 14 accused including several members of the society.

A division bench of justices Ranjana Desai and R V More was hearing a petition filed by the Society seeking de-freezing of its two bank accounts with the State Bank of India, Cuffe Parade and Wodehouse Road, to bear legal expenses and day-to-day expenditure of the Society. The accounts have deposits approximately worth Rs 2 crore.

"We are rejecting the petition," Justice Desai said. Counsels for Adarsh - senior counsel V A Thorat and advocate Satish Maneshinde - had argued that they have to pay approximately Rs 1.5 crore towards property tax to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

"We also have to pay the lawyers for the pending litigation," Thorat had argued.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had opposed the petition, saying the amount deposited could be part of the ill-gotten wealth, which is still under investigation.