Signed Adarsh files in good faith: Ashok Chavan

New Delhi: Deposing before the Adarsh Commission, Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan has blamed the Principal Secretary (Revenue) for the controversy surrounding the housing project, saying he signed the letter of intent on good faith.

"I was guided by Principal Secretary (Revenue) DK Shankaran regarding the conditional 'Letter of Intent'. I wasn't aware of the detailed conditions. I signed it in good faith. The details of the membership of society were not brought to my knowledge," Chavan told the two-member Adarsh Commission on Monday.

Last week, he had blamed his predecessor Vilasrao Deshmukh for the alleged irregularities in the Adarsh housing society. Chavan had said the allotment of land in Mumbai city is governed by the Government Resolution of 1999 and Directions from the Chief Minister's Office, both of which clearly state that for allotment of land in Mumbai city, the approval has to come from the Chief Minister.

Ashok Chavan has blamed the Principal Secretary (Revenue) for the controversy surrounding the housing project.

Chavan was the revenue minister in the Vilasrao government. Vilasrao, during his interrogation on Wednesday, had blamed Chavan for the controversial allotments.

Chavan had reportedly told the judicial panel probing the scam that irrespective of the value of land, "allotment of any government land in Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbs and Pune city comes under the Chief Minister's jurisdiction".

He further blamed the Urban Development Department (UDD) headed by Vilasrao Deshmukh for the Letter of Intent that talked of the 40 per cent flats in Adarsh society that would be allotted to civilians.

He, however, admitted that he had received the Letter of Intent and said that he did not object to it as he did not read it fully.

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