The Maharashtra Government on Thursday exonerated all the ministers and former ministers involved in the Adarsh housing scam, while accepting a judicial report prepared by a two-member team.
However, 12 senior bureaucrats, who gave various permissions and concessions to the controversial co-operative housing society in South Mumbai, will face disciplinary action.
The Maharashtra Government decided to review its earlier decision of rejecting the report, only after the Vice-President of the Congress Party Rahul Gandhi last week said that the State Government should reconsider the report.
The report by retired High Court judge J.A. Patil had criticised four former chief ministers Ashok Chavan, late Vilasrao Deshmukh, Shivajirao Nilangekar Patil and Sushilkumar Shinde, who is currently the Home Minister of the country.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, while addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, said that no action has been contemplated against ministers and former ministers as no criminal intent has been proven. The State Government will not be filing any additional charge sheets or first information reports against them.
When questioned on action against former CM Ashok Chavan , Prithviraj Chavan said the CBI is already probing allegations of ‘quid pro quo’ in the scam and the State Government would be fully cooperating with the investigations. Chavan added that legal action will be initiated against 25 ineligible members of the housing society. The society also has 22 benami (unknown owners) flats, which would be investigated by the CBI.
On the issue of demolition of the building, he said that the matter was still under litigations and being heard in the Bombay High Court.
rahul.wadke@thehindu.co.in