Ranchi, April 30: Registrar of co-operative societies has promised to look into the affairs of the Services Housing Co-operative Society in Ashok Nagar, home to more than 500 families and sundry private firms that make up the state capital’s most sought after address, for possible violations in the use of what were essentially residential plots.

“Commercial activities cannot be carried out on residential plots of a society,” said the registrar, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, pointing out that an inquiry had been ordered into the alleged irregularities in 2010.

“I will take up the matter once again and verify files related to Ashok Nagar,” Sharma, who was in Bengal on election duty, told The Telegraph.

The 2010 probe revealed that as many as 105 of 505 plots in Ashok Nagar were being used for commercial purposes.

Granted by the then Bihar government at throwaway prices to government employees in the 60s’ for residential purposes, the colony has morphed into the best address in town with health clinics, banks and coaching centres, besides private offices coming up over the years.

Among Ashok Nagar’s early residents were IAS, IPS and IFS officers of the Bihar cadre. Gradually, more and more people from other professions managed plots there. Some even set up offices, which paved the way for businessmen to make an entry into the 155-acre locality.

Today, several among the city’s who’s who live in Ashok Nagar. Among them are state human rights commission chairman Nagendra Rai, Mahanadi Coalfields CMD A.N. Sahay, former advocate-general P.K. Prasad, cardiologist R.C.N. Sahay, former chief secretary P.P. Sharma, former IG in the Union ministry of environment and forests C.D. Pandey and lawyer Bimal Kumar.

They weren’t among those misusing their plots, but none would comment on the dispute either.

Chairman of the society N.P. Sinha admitted changes in the pattern of use, but clarified that the society levied a surcharge on owners using their residential plots for commercial purpose.

“I am aware that several offices are running on residential plots. Thus, I have levied extra maintenance charges on those owners who are using the premises for commercial purposes. So far, we have not taken any decision to restrain them from doing so,” he said.

Irregularities in the usage pattern were first raked up in 2006 and notices were served on as many as 70 owners. However, nothing much happened after that.