Gidwani helped 30 civilians get membership

Former Congress legislator Kanhaiyalal Gidwani had facilitated membership of around 30 civilians in Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) learnt after questioning him. Manish Pachouly reports.

Former Congress legislator Kanhaiyalal Gidwani had facilitated membership of around 30 civilians in Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) learnt after questioning him. Gidwani was one of the chief promoters of Adarsh, along with RC Thakur.

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The CBI on Saturday continued questioning of Gidwani, Thakur and retired major general MM Wanchoo, the society’s president, for the third consecutive day.

CBI sources said that a retired army officer in New Delhi had introduced Gidwani to Thakur and Wanchoo, as he was their common friend.

“Since they knew each other, Thakur and Wanchoo involved Gidwani to get some crucial clearances from state, as the society’s case was not moving ahead,” an officer said requesting anonymity.

He added that in lieu of helping them, Gidwani got many civilians, whom he knew personally, in the society, including some bureaucrats.

Sources said that during questioning, the officials also found out that seven flats in Adarsh belong to Gidwani, his relatives and close friends.

Following questioning of the three, the CBI has learnt that there were around six flats that were allotted to civilians on Chavan’s instructions.

The first information report registered by the agency has also mentioned that Gidwani and Chavan, who was then revenue minister, were responsible for inclusion of civilians in the society with a hidden agenda of converting the land meant for widening of Prakash Pethe Marg.

Senior CBI officers also held a review meeting to discuss the next set of people to be called for questioning from Monday.