Adarsh scam: Bombay High Court asks CBI's to conduct further probe in 'benami' flats

Mumbai: Expressing its dissatisfaction with the report submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with its probe into 'benami' flats in the scam-tainted Adarsh Society, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the investigative police agency to probe the matter further. 

The division bench of Justices AS Oka and AA Sayed after perusing the report said 'it was not satisfied' and the matter requires further investigation.

The court had on September 2 this year refused to accept a report submitted by CBI and had said the agency has not applied its mind in respect to issues raised in the PIL. It had then directed the agency to submit another report and also ordered CBI Western Regions Joint Director to remain present in court on September 28.

Activist Pravin Wategaonkar had moved court alleging that senior bureaucrats and politicians held 'benami' flats in the Adarsh building, which was a quid-pro-quo for clearing files related to the society in violation of several norms.

Wategaonkar had sought disclosure of names of two top officers of the Maharashtra government who had dealt with Adarsh files and allegedly obtained 'benami' flats. 

He claimed that when CBI arrested one of the promoters of Adarsh society, Kanhaiyalal Gidwani in 2011, the remand papers claimed that they needed Gidwani's custody because he held 'benami' flats for a Congress leader. 

Gidwani's family members owned a total of 10 flats in Adarsh. His sons himself owned three flats, however, the source of money and real ownership was not clear, the plea had said.