‘Probe slowed as high-ranking officials were involved in scam’

The investigation into the Adarsh housing society scam was slowed down because high-ranking personalities were involved in the offence, the special CBI court observed.

The investigation into the Adarsh housing society scam was slowed down because high-ranking personalities were involved in the offence, the special CBI court observed.

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The special CBI court on April 4 rejected the bail application of seven accused, which included former MLC KL Gidwani, Pradeep Vyas, a suspended bureaucrat in Maharashtra government, retired major generals TK Kaul and AR Kumar, brigadier (Retd) MM Wanchoo, RC Thakur, a retired defence estates officer and PV Deshmukh, a former deputy secretary in the urban development department.

The detailed order copy of the bail was signed on Tuesday and copies were made available to the parties on Wednesday. The court, while rejecting the plea, commented on the probe.

The court observed, “No doubt the inquiry has been going on for more than two years, and the offence itself was registered on January 29, 201. But because of the high-ranking personalities involved in the offence, the investigation did not take its own pace. However, going through the case diaries, I find that the progress has been made in investigation.”

A Bombay high court division bench of justice PB Majmudar and justice RD Dhanuka on March 12 pulled up the CBI for its slow progress. Soon after, the CBI made its first arrest on March 20 in the case, when it arrested MM Wanchu, RC Thakur and PV Deshmukh. A day later, it arrested the four other accused.