New Delhi : The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday filed a supplementary charge-sheet in the special CBI court in the Adarsh Housing scam against 22 of the 103 members found to be ‘benami’ owners of the property.
The charge-sheet accuses them of cheating, criminal conspiracy and violations under the Benami Transaction Prohibition Act.
On the orders of the Supreme Court, the CBI had conducted a probe into the source of funds used by these ‘benami’ persons for acquisition of flats in the Adarsh housing society.
The charge-sheet also names 24 financers who helped these 22 ‘benami’ owners with funds to buy the flats. Prominent among these is the San Finance Corporation of the Sanchetis, who are considered close aides of former BJP president Nitin Gadkari. Among those to whom loans were given by the Sanchetis for purchase of eight flats in the housing society were a peon and a driver. The real beneficiaries were in some way connected with the group.
The CBI, however, has not named former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan as a ‘benami’ owner. The agency has contended that there was no money trail linking him to the purchase of the flats and there was no evidence to prove his connivance. It was alleged that two of Chavan’s relatives were given flats in the Adarsh tower in a quid pro quo for favours granted to the housing society. The CBI’s decision to clear his name for lack of evidence will come as a relief to the beleaguered leader who is contesting the Nanded Lok Sabha seat.
The CBI charge sheet has also named 22 co-conspirators, including members of the housing society, who helped facilitate the ‘benami’ transactions. The case against the key co-conspirators in the case — K L Gidwani -– who is also named as an accused, has abated he is no more.
Two family members of Major General (retired) T.K. Kaul were also allegedly involved in the ‘benami’ transactions. Maj. Gen. Kaul already owns one flat in the society. His daughter and wife financed the purchase of two other flats.
