Kargilgate: Ex-defence chiefs to surrender flats

Former Army chiefs General N C Vij and Deepak Kapoor said they would surrender their flats in Mumbai’s allotment-scam hit housing society where the accommodations were originally meant for the Kargil War widows and families.

General Vij told TV channels that he would also give up the membership of Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society, which is turning out to be a Pandora’s Box of corrupt allocation of flats.

“I have written to the Adarsh Society that I am giving up the membership with immediate effect. I have also informed the Defence Minister of my decision,” he told NDTV.

He also demanded a probe into the whole issue.

Earlier, former Navy chief Admiral Madhvendra Singh had also expressed his desire to return the flat along with General Deepak Kapoor and N.C. Vij, reports quoting the latter said.

General Vij said they never were aware of the issues when they had applied for the flats.

“I had no idea that these were meant for Kargil war widows as I hear from a section of media now. We are deeply anguished and we discussed and decided that we must return the flats,” Gen Vij said earlier.

Meanwhile, reports said Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who along with Defence Minister A K Antony would oversee the Chavan issue, is likely to meet Ashok Chavan Sunday evening.

“I am aware of reports of Chavan’s offer to quit. I am yet to look at the details. So, it is premature to comment right now,” he told the channel.

Sucked into the controversy over corrupt allotment of flats meant for Kargil War widows in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Saturday offered to resign from his post before Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, though a final call on the issue is awaited from the party high command.

The Congress has appointed a two-member panel comprising senior ministers Pranab Mukherjee and A K Antony to look into the affair.