Vilasrao Deshmukh under the scanner for Adarsh scam

He was no where in the picture when the controversial Adarsh scam broke in November last year. But now, a month after the inquiry commission began probing the multi-crore housing scam, affidavits submitted by top babus, politicians and officials are all pointing an indirect finger at Union Rural Development minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. Ironically, ousted for being involved in the scam, former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has not been named in any of the affidavits filed so far.

First to pin the blame on Deshmukh was suspended State Information Commissioner and prime accused Ramanand Tiwari, who told the commission that it was Deshmukh who had approved all proposals pertaining to the 31- storey apartment building in up- scale Colaba. The society's proposal seeking deletion of the land reserved for BEST and changing it to residential type was forwarded to Deshmukh. Only after his approval, a notification dated March 3, 2006 was issued deleting the BEST reservation, Tiwari said in his affidavit clearly pointing out that it was Deshmukh who gave the go ahead for allowing Adarsh to use the additional FSI. Tiwari's son Omkar owns a flat in the society.

Another former CM and current Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde also threw the ball in Vilasrao's court, washing his hands of the Adarsh controversy. Through his affidavit submitted before the Commission, Shinde made a veiled but pointed reference to his predecessor. On the question of the deletion of the reservation of the BEST plot and its conversion it to a residential one to favour Adarsh, Shinde said, " the notification (dated April 10, 2001) is prior to my taking over as chief minister." Denying any role in the Adarsh scam, State Water Resources minister Sunil Tatkare also passed the blame on to Deshmukh.

Tatkare, who was the minister of state for urban development intermittently from 1999 to 2004, pointed out he had no powers to take decisions in the Adarsh case, as he was a junior minister and all powers vested with the Chief Minister.