PCB members seek details of scam

PUNE, Oct 3: The elected members of the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) have reportedly resolved to submit a fresh letter to the president of t...

PUNE, Oct 3: The elected members of the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) have reportedly resolved to submit a fresh letter to the president of the Board urging all details of the Supreme Court building norm violation charges against former cantonment executive officer R S Cheema, at the next board meeting. PCB members who denied all involvement in sanctioning plans in the civil area had demanded an inquiry against former CEO Cheema for allegedly okaying building plans flouting Supreme Court orders sanctioning the plans of 156 MG Road (which houses the famous Talwalkar Gym), 149-A MG Road and 691 Taboot Street, at the board meeting held in August end.

The SC ruling of 1988 spelt out very clearly that all buildings plans that did not fall under the freehold category would be treated as invalid.

However, although some construction plans had been recommended for freehold by the cantonment board, the GOC-in-C, Southern Command, had rejected them following which the aggrieved parties moved the courts; but they lost their case subsequently. The letter submitted to the president of the cantonment board signed by all elected members also alleged irregularities in the sanction accorded to the building plans of another 23 buildings.When contacted, president Brig Mathew Mammen said that the matter was placed before the Defence Estates Officer (DEO) and a report would be duly prepared on the case.

Sources revealed that the case was being examined by the office of the GOC-in-C. The members were prepared to wait till the next meeting for the report. However, if the matter was not taken up by the board, a fresh letter would be issued demanding an inquiry in the case, sources revealed.