Former Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr Ashok Chavan, told the two-member inquiry commission probing the Adarsh housing society scam on Thursday that he was ready to appear before it on June 30. Mr Chavan, an accused in the Adarsh case, also being probed by the CBI, had on May 22 sought exemption from appearance before the judicial panel, saying his evidence would have been relevant only on issues of ownership of the land on which the 31-storey building stands and whether it was reserved for Kargil widows and war heroes. The two issues have already been decided by the panel.
“As the commission has already submitted its report to the Government on these issues I may be exempted,” the former Chief Minister had said in his application. However, Mr Chavan filed a fresh application today clarifying that he did not intend to suggest that he would not be available to the commission.
“The applicant's (Mr Chavan's) only request is that he be called for deposition on or after June 30. The applicant has been named by CBI in their FIR and in view of his requirement in Delhi in a pending proceeding, his deposition before the commission may be deferred,” Thursday's application says.
The commission headed by Justice (retd) Mr J. A. Patil accepted Mr Chavan's application, and directed him to appear before it on June 30, while disposing of his previous petition seeking exemption.