CBI submits progress report to HC on Adarsh scam probe

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today submitted progress report to the Bombay High Court on the probe of Adarsh Housing Society case, involving 14 accused, including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

Additional Solicitor General Darius Khambata handed the report, in a sealed cover, to the division bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and R V More. The bench asked CBI to file a further report after four weeks.

The matter has now been posted for hearing on July 20. CBI had earlier informed the Court that it had registered case against 14 persons, following which the court had asked the petitioner, Simpreet Singh, to forward his complaint and whatever documents he had, to the agency.

Singh, a social activist, had originally sought transfer of case from state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to the CBI. Later, on its own, the state government decided to hand the case over the central agency.

On the last occasion, Singh's lawyer had said that High Court must supervise the probe, alleging that even Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was involved in the scam, but his name does not figure in CBI's FIR.

However, the court felt it was investigating agency's prerogative as to whom to name in the FIR. CBI filed the FIR on January 29 under various sections of IPC, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery, besides sections under Prevention of Corruption Act.