Narayan Rane pleads innocence in Adarsh scam

Maharashtra Industries Minister and Congress leader Narayan Rane on Wednesday claimed that had not taken any decision regarding the controversial Adarsh Housing Society during his tenure as the chief minister.

Making a suo-motu statement in the Legislative Assembly in Mumbai, Rane said an application regarding the proposed society had come to him on September 21, 1999.

He said he forwarded the application to the revenue department with the remark "submit a report immediately".

"No decision was taken during my tenure. Even the Deputy Secretary of Revenue Department J K Gharat has told the judicial commission (probing the scam) that no further action was taken on those remarks," he said.

Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai had raised the issue in the assembly on Tuesday.

While referring to it, Rane alleged that Sena -- his former party -- was trying to drag his name into the controversy for no reason.

"The issue was raised on the floor of the House based on news reports which were not factual. This is an attempt at character assassination," he said.

Adarsh, a 31-storey building in south Mumbai, was allegedly built on defence ministry's land, in violation of environmental as well as civic laws.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said that the enquiry into the scam was going on in the right direction and the truth would soon be revealed.

"The CBI and Adarsh Commission are conducting the enquiry appropriately and even the government wants to know the truth," Chavan said in the Legislative Council.

Shiv Sena Member of Legislative Council Diwakar Rawate and Dr Neelam Gorhe had sought a discussion on the issue earlier in the morning.

Rawate had alleged that the CBI enquiry was going nowhere.

The chief minister intervened and stated that allegations should not be made against any minister just for political gains.

"My colleagues here and also in Delhi are cooperating (with the probe)," Chavan added.

Following this, Council Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh rejected the demand for a discussion.

In another development, the Bombay high court, while hearing a PIL on Wednesday,  pulled up the CBI for a tardy probe into a side-case related to the missing documents from the state Urban Development Department.