'Adarsh society had 65% civilian members during allotment'

The Adarsh Society may have procured land in the name of defence employees. However, when the state government gave the allotment letter of the land to the housing society, it had already given 65% of the membership to civilians.

The Adarsh Society may have procured land in the name of defence employees. However, when the state government gave the allotment letter of the land to the housing society, it had already given 65% of the membership to civilians.

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A list of 20 approved members, given at the time of the allotment letter, had only seven defence personnel, while the rest were civilians, Congress legislator Kanhaiyalal Gidwani told a two-member commission set up to probe the Adarsh scam.

Gidwani was also one of the chief promoters of Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society.

The promoters got land from the government by stating that the society would include defence personnel, who had dedicated their life for the country. At a later stage, a decision was taken to include 40% civilian members into the society.

Out of the 13 civilian members, three are from Gidwani’s own family, including himself and his two sons Kailash and Amit. Gidwani also accepted he knew eight of the remaining civilian members.

Initially, Gidwani denied organising the meeting in order to get additional FSI for the society. However, when informed that the same notice was given to the general manager of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport, Gidwani accepted that the meeting was held to discuss extra FSI.