Deshmukh, Shinde, Rane in Adarsh flat row?

MUMBAI, OCT 31
The Housing Society controversy which has sucked in Chief Minister Ashok Chavan widened as it appeared to reach the doors of his three predecessors Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde and Narayan Rane—who are said to have links with some beneficiaries of the project.
But Deshmukh, Shinde and Rane today denied allegations against them saying they did not recommend anyone for allotment of a flat in the Adarsh Housing Society.
Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar, who is nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, also denied having recommended anybody for membership in the housing society in Mumbai.
Deshmukh said he did approve the letter of intent (LoI) of 20 people who wanted to become members of the society. But he did so after a recommendation was allegedly made by Chavan, the then State Revenue Minister.
“The list had come for my approval only for counter signature and you do it in good faith,” he said.
Deshmukh’s statement comes in the wake of reports that three of his aides own flats in the society. “I had not recommended anybody’s case. There is nobody in the society who can claim to be my relative or near and dear one…This appears to be a conspiracy to defame me,” Deshmukh told PTI.
Shinde said he has never recommended anyone for being allotted a flat in the 31-storey building which is said to have meant for Kargil War heroes and widows. Responding to allegations in media that he had a flat in a benami name; Shinde said “It is not in my name. I have never recommended anyone.”
Rane refuted reports that he had a role in allocation of a flat in the society considered close to him. His take was that several agencies are inquiring into the scam and therefore would not like to interfere in it.
Ajit Pawar said he to nothing to do with the Adarsh housing society scam.
“Show me even one person who is either a relative or someone I know who is a member of the society,” he said.       
“I have not recommended anyone’s name for membership. I have nothing to do with the Adarsh society,” Pawar added.
The comments by Deshmukh, Pawar, Rane and Shinde came against the backdrop of reports by TV channels alleging that some top Maharashtra Congress-NCP leaders recommended and pushed for flats in the Adarsh society for their associates and persons known to them.
“NCP leaders are not linked to the scam. They have not given any extra benefits to anyone. They have not bent the rules. Somebody must have come to them for recommendation and writing recommendation is a routine for leaders,” Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said.
A controversy has erupted over how Adarsh Housing Society, originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil War heroes and widows, got converted into a 31-storey tower through collusion of bureaucrats, politicians and top defence officers.