Benami Transanctions grips Adarsh Scam

More benami instances evident in Adarsh scam, CBI tells HC
Express News Service Posted: Tue Apr 12 2011, 03:27 hrs Mumbai
Refusing to defreeze the bank accounts of P V Deshmukh, former deputy secretary accused in the Adarsh Society scam, the CBI informed the Bombay High Court that like in case of Congress leader Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, instances of benami transactions were evident in this case.
Deshmukh and his family’s five bank accounts in Vijaya Bank and Bank of Maharashtra and two lockers were attached by the CBI after it registered a case on January 29 in the scam. The CBI stated in his affidavit that Rs 22.50 lakh and “incriminating documents” were recovered from Deshmukh’s premises in Adarsh that were raided on February 2. “The cash recovered is accounted for. Some of it belongs to my son Harshvardhan and his wife Veera,” Deshmukh’s petition stated.
The CBI’s affidavit, however, stated that the matter regarding the recovery of cash has been taken up with the I-T authorities for contemplating necessary action under the I-T Act, 1962.
Citing the example of Gidwani, whose three flats in Adarsh Society, were found to be benami in the course of the investigations, Additional Superintendent of Police, CBI, Ravindra Singh stated in his affidavit, “More instances of benami like Gidwani are evident which need to be investigated under the Benami Transactions (Prevention) Act.” He stated that the operation of the disputed bank accounts has been stopped “to verify the benami transactions purportedly made by the accused”.
The affidavit submitted to the court by CBI counsel D N Salvi also stated, “Investigation of the case is at a crucial stage and the relevant documents are yet to be received from various banks, which will require extensive scrutiny to ascertain source of funds along with benami transactions, if any.” Stating that Deshmukh had filed the petition with a malafide intent of subverting the investigations, the CBI urged the court to dismiss his plea.
Justice P V Hardas and Justice M N Gilani adjourned the case for further hearing when the court resumes after summer vacation in June.
More benami instances evident in Adarsh scam, CBI tells HC
Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal Bill- relevance to urgency to act
Murky World Of Public Servants
Comments By: Lewis Sooting | 12-Apr-2011
The Adarsh Society Housing scam that gripped the country some months back, refuses to die down with the Mumbai High Court monitoring and directing the investigators at every stage ensuring escape routes are sealed. Benami transactions are not something new in this corruption-ridden country and are known to proliferate since the class of politicians who fought for India's independence were epitaphed into the history books. The Govt has the moral responsibility after wilting to Anna Hazare's demands to pass toughened Bills against corruption and direct all the investigative agencies under their command to carry out mass raids and uncover the benami ownerships of all political, bureaucrats, PSUs directorship and every other big name govt. servant in the civil services who have property in their kith & kins names. A Guinness record will be achieved when the country is informed of the how rich our public servants truly have become since corruption became the major life-line of the nation.
Related Reading
Radia tapes get a new, hawala twist