Shinde may come under scrutiny

According to the application filed by social activist Pravin Wategaonkar, Shinde, who had handled documents of the controversial Adarsh Housing Society during his tenure as Maharashtra chief minister, owns a benami flat in the plush 31-storey highrise in south Mumbai.

The housing society has been embroiled in the scam for alleged irregularities. A division bench of Justices PV Hardas and PN Deshmukh today asked Wategaonkar to serve a copy of his application to respondents (Union and state governments, CBI and Adarsh Society). "The respondents may file their reply affidavits, if they find it necessary, by Sept. 19," the court said. The application was filed by Wategaonkar as part of his public interest litigation seeking a probe by Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax departments into alleged money laundering.

According to the plea, Shinde had suggested that Major N Khankhoje be included as a member of Adarsh Society, which was corroborated in the deposition of former MLC and member of the Society, Kanhaiyalal Gidwani (now deceased) before the inquiry commission. "Captain Kiran Khankhoje, son of the late major, also deposed before the commission and said that when his father applied for the Society's membership, he was to make all the payments. However, his father was not found financially independent and was held ineligible for membership," the application stated.