In a huge relief to the Maharashtra government, the judicial commission of inquiry looking into the Adarsh housing scam has held that the land on which the
controversial building stands belongs to the state and not the army. 

The two-member panel, which had submitted its interim report to the  government last Friday, has also held that the building was not reserved for war heroes and Kargil widows. 

The interim report was discussed by the Maharashtra cabinet today, sources close to the development said, adding it is likely to be tabled in the legislature later in the day. 

The commission headed by former Bombay High Court judge J A Patil includes former state Chief Secretary P Subramanian.
The report, according to sources, has thrown light on the issues of ownership of

the land on which the 31-storey high-rise stands in upscale Colaba, and if it was reserved for war heroes and Kargil conflict widows.

The allegations in the case are that the land was allotted by the state government to the Adarsh Society though it belonged to the Defence Ministry, and the building came up in violation of several civic and environmental norms.

The state government had approached the commission a few months ago seeking an interim report on the points of title and reservation.