'Adarsh land was not reserved for Kargil heroes'

Mumbai: Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Thursday told the judicial panel probing the Adarsh Society Housing scam that the land where the controversial building stands belongs to the Maharashtra government and was never reserved for defence personnel or Kargil war heroes.

"The plot where Adarsh stands is owned by the State of Maharashtra. The plot was not reserved for Defence personnel or Kargil war heroes," Shinde, former Maharashtra Chief Minister said in an affidavit filed before the two-member enquiry commission set up to probe the Adarsh scam.

Shinde said the allotment of the land to Adarsh Society was done by the government only after proper scrutiny of all records.

Sushilkumar Shinde has denied allegation of receiving favours from the Society members.

"The Letter of Intent dated January 18, 2003 made it clear that the land was alloted according to Government Resolution (GR) of July 1999 which did not provide reservation for war heroes," the affidavit says.

Shinde has denied allegation of receiving favours from the Society members and has said that due process of law was followed and verification was done by several state government officials before granting permission to the high-rise.

"During my tenure as Chief Minister from May 2003 till November 2004, I did not get any complaint about any alleged irregularity in allotment of the land to Adarsh Society," Shinde said in the affidavit.

The affidavit was filed in reply to summons issued by the Commission early this month.

Former State Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who was also directed to file an affidavit on Thursday sought an extension till June 13, which was granted.

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