The central bureau of investigation has arrested brigadier (retired) M M Wanchu (president of Adarsh Housing Society), R C Thakur (defence estate officer and secretary of Adarsh Housing Society) and P V Deshmukh (deputy secretary, urban development department of Maharashtra government). According to sources in the probe agency, CBI has also issued an arrest warrant against senior IAS officer Jairaj Phathak and Pradeep Vyas. The investigating agency is also likely to tighten the noose around Ashok Chauhan, former chief minister of Mahrashtra. It had earlier arrested Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, former MLC from Maharashtra Congress (also an accused in the scam), along with three other persons in a separate case earlier this month.

A case was registered by CBI on January 29 last year against 13 accused including civil servants and some unknown persons.

It was alleged that the accused persons had conspired with a few defence officers, Maharashtra government officials.  The land was in the possession of the army before the construction of the 31-storeyed building which violated building norms.