Adarsh Housing Society scandal

18°54′33″N 72°49′00″E / 18.9093°N 72.8167°E / 18.9093; 72.8167

Adarsh Housing.
Adarsh Housing Society in July 2011.

The Adarsh Housing Society is a 31-story building constructed on prime real estate in Colaba, Bombay, for the welfare of war Widows and personnel of India's Ministry of Defence. Over a period of several years, politicians, bureaucrats and military officers allegedly conspired to bend several rules concerning land ownership, zoning, floor space index and membership getting themselves flats allotted in this cooperative society at below-market rates.[1][2]


In year 2011, a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) said, "The episode of Adarsh co-operative Housing Society reveals how a group of select officials, placed in key posts, could subvert rules and regulations in order to grab prime government land – a public property – for personal benefit."[3]

In January 2011, the Maharashtra government set up a two-member judicial commission to inquire into the matter. The commission was headed by retired High Court judge Justice J A Patil, with N N Kumbhar acting as member secretary. After deposing 182 witnesses over 2 years, the commission submitted its final report in April 2013 to the Maharashtra government. The report highlighted 25 illegal allotments, including 22 purchases made by proxy.[4] The report also indicted four former chief ministers of Maharashtra: Ashok Chavan, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde and Shivajirao Nilangekar Patil, 2 former urban development ministers: Rajesh Tope and Sunil Tatkare and 12 top bureaucrats for various illegal acts. The allottees included Devyani Khobragade.[5][6] Allegations of corruption resulted in the resignation of Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan in 2012.[7]

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are currently investigating allegations that three former chief ministers of Maharashtra – Sushilkumar Shinde, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ashok Chavan – were involved.[8][9]

As of 2024, the Adarsh Society case still being heard by the courts and a final verdict has not yet been reached.

  1. ^ "Criminal conspiracy in Mumbai highrise, Army officers could be involved: Defence probe". Press Trust of India. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  2. ^ Neha Thirani (2 April 2012). "A Brief History of Corruption in the Ministry of Defense". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society, Mumbai" (PDF). Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Adarsh Housing scam commission submits its final report". Press Trust of India. NDTV. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Adarsh panel indicts four Maharashtra ex-CMs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Maharashtra Govt Rejects Adarsh Scam Report was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Malavika Vyawahare (26 June 2012). "Corruption Allegations Prompt Slew of Political Resignations in India". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  8. ^ "HC slams ED, CBI for tardy Adarsh probe". The Times of India. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Adarsh Society scam: Where are the Kargil martyrs in the allottees?". NDTV. 30 October 2010. Archived from the original on 27 January 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.