In what might seem to be a series of Adarsh-like scams in the offing, Lieutenant General Pradeep Khanna, the General Officer Commanding–in–Chief, Southern Command has sent a recommendation to the defence ministry, asking the CBI to probe the sale of a one-acre prime plot in Malad (east).
The plot was leased to the Indian Army by the state government, but was later sold to a builder, without clearance from the Army. Presently, four multi-storied residential buildings stand on the plot.
Lt Gen. Khanna was speaking at a special investiture ceremony for valiant soldiers at the Army headquarters for the Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa area. “There is no reason why this land (in Malad) should have been sold to a developer until and unless the Army had cleared it. The said plot was an ordnance depot that was given on lease to the Army,” Lt Gen. Khanna said.
In a report submitted to the ministry of defence, Lt. Gen. Khanna recommended that a CBI inquiry be conducted on the issue.
According to the report, the one-acre plot was a Central ordnance depot since 1942. However, in the year 2007, the state government, without taking consent or a no-objection certificate from the Southern Command of the Indian Army, sold the land to Neo–Pharma Private Limited, an arm of the Kalpataru Builders for `6 crores. Currently, three 30-storied buildings and one 31-storied high-rise stand on the controversial location.
Speaking for the first time to the media on the issue, Lt Gen. Khanna added that the report and recommendations were made only after an initial probe by the Southern Command revealed irregularities, while handing over the land. The report is with defence minister A.K. Antony, who will take a call on what action needs to be taken on the subject.
Responding to questions related to the Adarsh scam, Lt Gen. Khanna informed that the Southern Command has submitted its inquiry report to the CBI. The Army presented maps of Mumbai dating back to 1844, which showed that Colaba was just an island that belonged to the military, thus it was called a military island. “The CBI has been given a report regarding the land belonging to the armed forces and they have accepted our study,” Lt Gen Khanna added.