'Collector did not respond to letters on Adarsh'

Former Mumbai collector Pradeep Vyas never submitted a report on the title of the Adarsh land in spite of two letters being sent as reminders, deputy secretary for revenue and forest JK Gharat told the Adarsh Commission.

Former Mumbai collector Pradeep Vyas never submitted a report on the title of the Adarsh land in spite of two letters being sent as reminders, deputy secretary for revenue and forest JK Gharat told the Adarsh Commission.

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The state had received a complaint from the defence estate officer regarding the ownership of land on which Adarsh society stands. Subsequently, in August 2003, Ramakant Asmar, joint secretary, revenue and forest department wrote a letter to Vyas, who was the erstwhile collector of Mumbai, to file an unambiguous report regarding the title of the disputed property within 15 days.

"No reply was received to this letter from the collector," Gharat told the Commission. Vyas was then sent another reminder, in spite of which, no report was submitted. "It appears that despite the said reminder, no report from the collector was received by our department," Gharat claimed.

Vyas' role is under the scanner as his wife and IAS colleague Seema Vyas has been allotted a flat in Adarsh. His wife's membership in the society was allegedly cleared by Vyas himself when he was the collector between 2002 and 2005.

Gharat also debunked Vyas's claim that he was not present for meetings held in 2003 by the revenue minister and the minister of state for urban development to discuss land allotment and membership criteria. "I was present in this meeting. Collector Pradeep Vyas was also present."