Revenue dept kept higher-ups in dark

The revenue department officials had not revealed to the higher authorities that Seema, wife of city collector Pradeep Vyas, was a member of the Adarsh society.

The revenue department officials had not revealed to the higher authorities that Seema, wife of city collector Pradeep Vyas, was a member of the Adarsh society.

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Deposing before the two member commission set up to probe the Adarsh scam, Ramakant Asmar, the then joint secretary, revenue and forest department, said: “During our communications in the year 2003-04, we did not bring it to the notice of the higher-ups that the wife of collector Vyas was already a member of the Adarsh cooperative housing society.”

“I cannot say why the explanation of collector Vyas was not sought or no action was initiated for his failure to submit an unambiguous report regarding title of the land and grant of additional FSI,” said Asmar. “The then defence estate officer Saurav Ray had raised security concerns about the construction of the multi-storeyed structure, so Vyas was liable to submit an explanatory report.”