Adarsh scam: CBI arrests two senior bureaucrats

Mumbai, Apr.3 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two senior bureaucrats-Jairaj Phatak and Ramanand Tiwari - on Tuesday in connection with the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

Phatak and Tiwari are the eighth and ninth accused to be detained in the Adarsh case.

Phatak is among the two serving Indian Administrative Service officers suspended for their alleged involvement in the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

In its status report submitted to the Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra Government said Phatak and another IAS officer Pradeep Vyas would be under suspension till completion of the investigations.

The CBI had alleged in its case filed on January 29 that Jairaj Phatak, during his tenure as Bombay Municipal Corporation commissioner, had approved the height of the building to be increased from 97 metres to 107 metres on September 1, 2007. eanwhile, the judicial custody granted to the other seven arrested was extended till April 17.

The seven other accused who were arrested earlier are Pradeep Vyas, a suspended bureaucrat of the Maharashtra Government; Major General (Retired) T.K. Kaul; Major General (Retired) AR Kumar; Brigadier (Retired) M.M. Wanchoo; R.C. Thakur, a retired defence estates officer, P.V. Deshmukh, a former deputy secretary in the Urban Department and K.L. Gidwani, a promoter of Adarsh Housing Society. (ANI)