Did not give NOC: Maj Gen Kumar

The letter which the members of the controversial Adarsh housing society in Colaba projected as a no objection certificate issued by the military for the construction of the 31-storey building, was not an NOC according to the then General Officer Commanding (GoC), Major General (retd) A R Kumar. HT reports.

The letter which the members of the controversial Adarsh housing society in Colaba projected as a no objection certificate issued by the military for the construction of the 31-storey building, was not an NOC according to the then General Officer Commanding (GoC), Major General (retd) A R Kumar.

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In 2000, the society had submitted a letter dated April 5, 2000, signed by Kumar, who was the then GoC of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, to show to the government that the army has no objection to the proposed building.

“I say that it is not (an) NOC but a statement of facts. I have not written any letter under my hand to the collector (of Mumbai) in reply to its letter dated March 29, 2000, giving NOC for allotment of land to Adarsh society,” said Kumar.

The collector had asked the Local Military Authority (LMA) in the March 29 letter asking it “to confirm that there is no objection to allot the land to the proposed society of the service personnel by the government of Maharashtra”.

While deposing before the Adarsh commission on Monday, Kumar claimed that he did not have the authority to issue such an NOC.

The Colaba housing society is being probed for misuse of authority and position by defence and government officials to get flats in Adarsh, as well as for violation of construction and environmental norms.

The society has as its members military commanders, politicians, bureaucrats and their relatives.

The commission was set up in January to probe the scam with reference to specific issues, such as land ownership, reservation of the plot, town planning and coastal violations, and the role of public servants.