Adarsh Scam: CBI Seeks Maharashtra Governor’s Nod to Prosecute Chavan

After the CBI approached the Maharashtra governor seeking sanction to prosecute him in connection with the Adarsh Housing Society corruption case, former chief minister Ashok Chavan has accused the BJP of carrying out a “political vendetta” against him.

However, citing grounds that it has unearthed “fresh evidence”, the CBI has again sought permission to prosecute Chavan.

The cabinet unanimously agreed to allow the governor to grant permission to prosecute the Congress party member. Permission sought by the CBI to initiate criminal proceedings against me is a classic example of the NDA government’s attitude. Also, 40 per cent of the flats in the society were illegally allotted to civilians, although it was meant for Kargil war widows and defence personnel. “The CBI is being misused against the Congress”, Chavan, the Lok Sabha member from Nanded in Maharashtra, said. “We want to expose the Congress for its sham”, said a senior minister.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya MP told mediapersons in New Delhi that the governor’s nod to prosecute Chavan is expected soon as the state cabinet has already conveyed that it is in favour of such a step. “Mr Sankaranarayanan had declined sanction for prosecution after consulting the Solicitor General”. But the government had to reconsider its own decision following a communication from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and his diktat for not rejecting it entirely. Son of former Union Home Minister and ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Shankarrao Chavan, Ashok Chavan’s mother-in-law Bhagwati Sharma, sister-in-law Seema Sharma and father-in-law’s brother Madanlal Sharma have flats in the society.

Following the rejection by the then governor, the CBI moved the Bombay High Court to drop Chavan’s name as an accused in the case.