Chavan puts all blame on Deshmukh

Adarsh scam * Former chief minister claims he didnt do anything illegal,denies allotting flats to kin.

In his first response before the Adarsh inquiry commission on Monday,former chief minister Ashok Chavan submitted an affidavit stating that the allotment of the plot on which the controversial 31-storeyed tower stands was made by the then chief minister,while he was the revenue minister from 1999 to 2003. The affidavit,however,did not name Vilasrao Deshmukh,who was the CM at that time.

Chavan was named as an accused in the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) FIR filed in the Adarsh Society scam on January 29. He concluded his eight-page affidavit stating,I have acted in a bonafide manner and in good faith and done nothing wrong. I have not done anything illegal during my tenure.

The affidavit submitted before the commission by Chavans lawyer Birendra Saraf stated that while he was the revenue minister,allotment of land in Maharashtra and determination of eligibility of society and its members was under the Revenue Department.

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However,in respect of the allotment of plots of value exceeding Rs 25 lakh and plots in Pune city,Mumbai city and suburbs,the decision rested with the CM as per the Rules of Business and the Office order dated May 31,1993,issued by the Revenue Department and the directions of the CM contained in a letter dated July 19,2001,from the Secretary to the CM to the Revenue Department, the affidavit stated.

According to the CBIs FIR,Chavan is accused of recommending 40 per cent allotment of flats in Adarsh Society,originally meant for Kargil war widows,to civilians. He also allegedly allotted flats to members of his family. Refuting the allegations,Chavan said,There was no question of my suggesting that civilian members be included in the Society and any suggestion that this was discussed with me or that I had suggested or directed or decided on the same is false and denied.

He also stated that in June 2000,representatives of the Society met him while he was revenue minister and urged him to consider the allotment of the plot to the Society. I heard the representatives and requested the Revenue Department to seek the necessary information and clarifications, his affidavit stated.

Chavan also said on June 5,2000,the Revenue Department had written a letter to the Collector,seeking information regarding the (Adarsh Society) land,eligibility of members of the Society,value of land,and whether the land falls in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).

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While I was a Cabinet minister,holding the revenue portfolio,a meeting was held in early June 2000 as stated above and the file was placed before me in July 2002. At that stage,the matter relating to the allotment of land was still only at the stage of verification of the proposal and there was no question of the Revenue Department having taken any decision on the allotment. This decision took place more than 16 months after I ceased to be the revenue minister, Chavans affidavit stated,adding that he has no knowledge about the actual verification or approval of members by the Revenue Department or about the allotment of land to the Society.

Regarding the widening of the Prakash Pethe Marg,changes in the reservation from road to residential,deletion of the reservation of the plot earmarked for BEST,matters related to the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act,Development Control Rules and Regulations,CRZ and environmental clearances,he stated: These matters did not come under the scope of the duties and responsibilities of the Revenue Department.