HC to hear Adarsh housing scam case on 8 Feb

**Mumbai:**The Bombay High Court today posted for hearing on February 8 a public interest litigation alleging money laundering in the Adarsh Housing scam. Hearing the petitioner Pravin Wategaonkar, Justices S J Vazifdar and Mridula Bhatkar said they would hear the matter on February 8. The petition filed by Wategaonkar has sought direction to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax department to probe alleged money laundering by former Maharashtra Ashok Chavan and 13 others for their alleged role in the Adarsh housing scam. [caption id=“attachment_593797” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Screen grab/ibnlive[/caption] An ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) has been registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against 14 persons. These are the same persons who have been named as accused by CBI in the FIR, Counsel for Enforcement Directorate, probing the matter, had told the Court earlier. It is alleged that the accused got clearances to construct Adarsh illegally and obtained flats at a very low price compared to market value. The accused projected tainted property as untainted. Prima facie, it constitutes offence under section 3 of PMLA, the ECIR stated. The Court had asked ED to make a statement on the applicability on provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act but so far the investigating agency has not made any statement. Wategaonkar’s petition contended that this is a fit case in which Prevention of Money Laundering Act can be invoked. It urged the Court to order the investigating agency to probe the source of the funds used for the purchase of flats. PTI