New Delhi, April 10, 2025 – The Supreme Court on Wednesday scrapped anticipatory bail for 16 accused in the Adarsh Housing Society scam, sending shockwaves through Mumbai’s political and military circles 14 years after the scandal broke. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and PV Sanjay Kumar ruled the Bombay High Court’s 2018 relief “unjustified,” ordering the accused—including ex-officials and builders—to face CBI custody as the probe into the 31-storey Colaba tower heats up.
The scam, uncovered in 2010, saw a prime defense plot meant for Kargil war widows twisted into a luxury pad for politicians, bureaucrats, and top brass. Flats worth Rs 8-10 crore each were allegedly snagged for Rs 60-85 lakh via forged papers and bent rules (Times of India). The CBI, chasing 37 accused since 2012, hit paydirt with Wednesday’s verdict—overriding pleas from figures like ex-MLA Kanhaiyalal Gidwani and retired Major General Tej Kishen Kaul.
“The law doesn’t sleep,” Justice Khanna said, per The Indian Express, slamming the High Court for ignoring evidence of manipulated records and environmental violations. The tower, built in a coastal no-build zone, flouted height caps too—sparking its partial demolition order in 2016. Now, with bail gone, arrests loom; CBI’s already grilling two aides nabbed last month.
Maharashtra’s politicos are jittery—Adarsh tainted Congress and NCP heavyweights, though BJP’s pushed the cleanup since 2014. On X, users cheer, “Finally, justice for Kargil heroes!”—but some scoff, “Too late, damage done.” Data backs the stakes: 102 flats, 25 for non-widows (CBI, 2023). The tower still stands, a quiet monument to greed.
This isn’t closure—it’s a crackdown. With elections nearing, will this jolt India’s elite, or just fade into another file? For now, the CBI’s got its shot—time to deliver.
