Land scam suspect Ashok Malhotra in judicial custody

By IANS

New Delhi : A special court here Monday remanded city-based contractor Ashok Malhotra, the main suspect in a multimillion rupee land scam, in judicial custody for 14 days.


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Malhotra, who is accused of siphoning off millions of rupees by illegally selling plots meant for displaced slum-dwellers, was remanded in judicial custody till Sep 3 after his 14-day Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remand ended Monday.

He was arrested from outside a television news channel earlier this month.

“A Tis Hazari court has sent him in judicial custody for 14 days after his remand ended today,” a CBI spokesman said.

Malhotra, known for his proximity to some key Delhi politicians, had allegedly sold off plots meant for relocation of slum-dwellers in northwest Delhi’s Dheerpur area, in association with five Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials and a private contractor.

The scam reportedly took place between 2000 and 2002.

During raids at his home in Mukherjee Nagar last month, the CBI claimed to have found several incriminating documents related to the land scam, Rs.1.7 million in cash, seven kg of gold and at least 50 luxury cars and 10 motorcycles – all with VIP number plates.

According to CBI sources, Malhotra was also involved in selling plots under other resettlement schemes of DDA to people with fake identities.

The CBI had last month registered a case against five DDA officers – deputy directors K.S. Verma and A.K. Mishra, assistant director J.R. Gaur and assistant engineers Shyam Babu and S.K. Sharma – for their alleged role in the scam.

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