CBI seeks three more months to complete Adarsh probe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday requested the Bombay high court to grant the agency three more months to complete investigation into the scam surrounding Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society at Cuffe Parade.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday requested the Bombay high court to grant the agency three more months to complete investigation into the scam surrounding Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society at Cuffe Parade.

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On December 20, the CBI had assured the court that the probe into the scam would be complete within two months, while investigation into the case of missing files would finish within a month.

However, on Tuesday, CBI counsel K Sudhakar sought three more months stating that the investigation was in progress and the central agency is scanning several bank transactions in order to investigate charges of benami transactions.

The division bench of justice SA Bobade and justice RD Dhanuka has now asked CBI to file, within two weeks, an application seeking extension of time to complete the investigation.

The CBI had initiated a preliminary inquiry into the Adarsh society scam after the defence ministry asked the agency to probe the allotment of defence-owned land for construction of the multi-storeyed housing society. On January 29, the CBI registered an FIR against 14 people, including former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, retired defence officials and state bureaucrats.

The CBI's delay also allowed four persons, arrested for having played a role in disappearance of a few key files, to get out on bail. The four accused were let out after the agency failed to file a charge sheet within the stipulated period.