Adarsh scam: Devyani Khobragade likely to be chargesheeted

NEW DELHI, Apr 5:  CBI is likely to file charge sheet against diplomat Devyani Khobragade and her father Uttam Khobragade in the Adarsh Housing scam for allegedly acquiring a flat on the basis of false affidavit.

Sources said the agency has got evidence which show that the flat was allegedly purchased by her using false declaration and by hiding information about the flat alloted to her under government quota and the land possessed by them.

Her father Uttam Khobragade, a Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, is a former CEO of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).

As part of its investigation, CBI is probing alleged illegal beneficiaries and benami property holders in the housing scam.

Controversial diplomat Devyani, India’s then deputy consul general in New York, was arrested by the United States authorities in December last year over alleged visa fraud which triggered a diplomatic row between the two countries.

She was transferred back and is now posted in India.

Under the CBI scanner are nearly 25 alleged illegal beneficiaries who were allotted flats in the Adarsh Housing Society which was said to be constructed in violation of norms.

Retired High Court Judge J A Patil’s report on the alleged scam has opened a can of worms bringing out alleged irregularities in the allotment.

The agency sources said they have got documents showing that Devyani had allegedly been allotted a flat in another government housing society in Oshiwara in 2005.

The sources said according to the rules of Defence Estate, members cannot get flats in two housing societies which get land on concessional rates.

Patil report had termed 25 out of 102 members of the housing society as ineligible. (PTI)