Adarsh scam: Ashok Chavan gets relief from Bombay HC

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday rejected Maharashta Governor C Vidyasagar Rao's sanction to prosecute former chief minister Ashok Chavan, in the Adarsh Scam.A division bench headed by Justice R V More was hearing a petition filed by Chavan challenging the Governor's decision granting sanction to CBI to prosecute him in the case.The High Court ruled that Central Bureau of Investigation had failed to present fresh evidence while seeking the Governor's sanction to prosecute the former chief minister.

In February last year, the Governor had allowed the CBI to prosecute Chavan for offences under IPC sections 120 (b)(criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) and various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.Since he was a public servant when the alleged offence of criminal conspiracy in the Adarsh Housing Society Scam took place, the law required prior sanction from the government to prosecute him.

While the CBI named him as an accused in the FIR, in December 2013, the then Governor K Sankaranarayanan had refused permission to prosecute Chavan in the scam. However, in March 2015, the High Court dismissed a plea made by Chavan, who is the MP from Nanded, seeking deletion of his name from the case, as the Governor had refused to grant sanction.(UNI)