The Bombay High Court on Friday set aside the governor’s sanction to prosecute Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan in the Adarsh housing scam, ANI reported.

In February 2016, Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao had authorised the Central Bureau of Investigation to prosecute Chavan in the case.

The investigating agency had sought the governor’s sanction after getting fresh evidence against him in the case. Chavan had said the sanction was part of a “political vendetta” against him, and claimed that the CBI’s move was illegal.

The Adarsh housing scam

The 31-storey residential tower in upscale Colaba was meant for Army veterans and war widows, but the plush apartments were given to several top politicians, bureaucrats and their families. A judicial committee set up to investigate the scam found that at least 25 of the houses went to ineligible people and 22 were sold under proxy names.

In April last year, the Bombay High Court had ordered the demolition of the complex, however, it was stayed by the Supreme Court later.

When the scandal broke in 2010, Congress leader and then Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was forced to resign, as it came to light that three of his relatives were allotted homes in the building.