Adarsh scam: Former BMC chief remanded to CBI custody

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Urban Development Principal Secretary, Ramanand Tiwari and ex-BMC Chief Jairaj Pathak were today remanded to CBI custody till 22 April by a special court here for their alleged role in the multi-crore Adarsh Housing scam. Both bureaucrats were arrested yesterday by the CBI after they were questioned in connection with the scam. CBI today informed the court that Tiwari, during his tenure as Principal Secretary of Urban Development, had made correspondence with Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) seeking NOC for development of Adarsh Housing Society although the land for the same purpose had not been allotted till then (when the correspondence was made), CBI submitted. [caption id=“attachment_266529” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Screen grab from IBN Live”]  [/caption] Further, the CBI said that in response to letter of Urban Development  Department (UDD), the MoEF sent a letter clarifying the powers delegated to the state government relating to the CRZ issue. However, the letter was misrepresented by UDD as NOC given by MoEF, which was communicated to the chief engineer, Development Plan, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the agency alleged in the court. Tiwari’s son, Onkar, has a flat in Adarsh Society, the probe agency submitted. Seeking custody of Jairaj Pathak, CBI said that during the period when he was the Municipal Commissioner of Greater Mumbai, the high rise committee constituted by the Government of Maharashtra had recommended the height of Adarsh Society to 97.6 metres, which was approved by him. However, investigations revealed that the society had illegally constructed additional floor over and above the approved height, thereby increasing the height of the building to 100.07 metres. This apart, the society had also illegally converted two “refuge” floors into residential flats, the CBI alleged. Further, Pathak, in conspiracy with other accused, had allegedly convened a meeting with the office bearers of the society and regularised height of the building without referring it back to the high rise committee. The said approval was given by him on the last day of his tenure as Municipal Commisioner of BMC and thereafter Pathak proceeded on Central deputation. His son, Kanishka, also has got a flat in the posh Society, CBI submitted. The CBI sought the custody of the duo saying that it was important to unearth the chain of conspiracy to establish how and under what circumstances the accused managed to get the above work done and the means used to entice public servants and rules played by each of them in the chain of conspiracy. CBI further said that it was essential to find out the quid pro quo in getting clearances from BMC and MoEF. PTI