Adarsh scam: CBI records statement of Vilasrao Deshmukh

The Central Bureau of Investigation, probing the multi-crore Adarsh Housing Society scam, has recorded the statement of Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who had dealt with files pertaining to the society during his tenure as Maharashtra chief binister.

The agency, which had registered a case against 14 people including former chief minister Ashok Chavan, had on July 31 recorded the statement of another Union minister  Sushil Kumar Shinde.

The questioning of Deshmukh, according to official sources, took place few weeks back and his statement was recorded by the agency.

Both Shinde and Deshmukh, at present Union minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, had dealt with files and passed proposals pertaining to the 31-storey plush building in south Mumbai, which was allegedly granted permissions after flouting rules and regulations.

The CBI, which had registered the first information report in the scam in January, is likely to file charge sheet against the 14 accused soon. The Bombay High Court had directed the agency to expedite its investigations and submit charge sheet at the earliest.

During his tenure as the chief minister, Deshmukh, who was also heading Urban Development Department, gave approval o a proposal made by the society seeking  deletion of an adjoining land reserved for BEST and change it to residential type.