M A I N   N E W S

MoD to issue notice to beneficiaries
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 30
Even as the Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and three former chiefs of the armed forces are under fire for their alleged dubious role in the Adarsh Housing Society in Colaba Mumbai, the Ministry of Defence has decided to issue notices to serving officers and functionaries who are among the beneficiaries of the society.

More than 35 of the 103 flats in the upscale society have been allotted to officers of the Army, the Navy and also functionaries of the Defence Estates Department. Some of them are still serving. The notices will ask the officials to explain how they were allotted the flats and what was the criteria they fulfilled. They will be questioned about the source of money they used to fund their acquisitions. Importantly, if any one of them has not listed the flats in the mandatory annual property returns, the matter will be taken up separately.

Sources confirmed that the questions have been raised on how these officials funded their flats and these notices will be served next week. Flats were allotted for Rs 65-70 lakh each by the Adarsh society and the serving officers will have a lot of explaining to do about the source of money, said a senior functionary. In case of irregularities disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act or the Navy Act will be initiated. The market value of each flat is close to Rs 10 crore as the society is located a stone’s throw from major South Mumbai landmarks like the Taj Hotel and the Gateway of India. It is one of the costliest piece of real estate in India.