Ex-bureaucrat wants to share new facts

Maharashtra’s former urban development secretary, Ramanand Tiwari, on Wednesday offered to bring “new facts” about the controversial Adarsh housing society to light.

Maharashtra’s former urban development secretary, Ramanand Tiwari, on Wednesday offered to bring “new facts” about the controversial Adarsh housing society to light.

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The retired IAS officer has sought the permission of the Adarsh inquiry commission to file an additional affidavit before it for this purpose.

The two-member commission — retired high court Justice JA Patil and former state chief secretary P Subrahmanium —will decide whether they should accept the new affidavit at this stage on June 18.

Tiwari, in his earlier affidavit of May 20, pointed fingers at former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, claiming that he had approved all proposals pertaining to the Cuffe Parade high-rise. Tiwari too is under the scanner for his role in the Adarsh scam; he was the urban development secretary when the society was given several permissions.

“The affidavit has been submitted, but is still to be brought on record. The commission will accept it if it brings forth new facts regarding the case,” Dipan Merchant, the commission’s counsel, said.