HC summons DDA VC, indicates CBI probe into society land scam

New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today summoned the Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority, the land-owning agency, to be present on November 23 with the documents regarding the allottment of land to various societies and trusts in Qutab Institutional Area to carry out voluntary works in the fields of social work, culture and to uplift the poor and downtrodden.

Indicating to institute a CBI probe to unravel the truth behind the transfer of property to some unscrupulous elements, a division bench of acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma observed it was a big fraud effected by a handful of people.

Many such societies have changed hands, it was like the housing societies being hijacked by the unscrupulous builders, the court observed.

DDA Counsel Rajive Bansal submitted the status report and said that the preliminary probe indicated that many of the societies including that of Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan society floated by sarod player Amjad Ali Khan, was hijacked by Anil Sareen, Ashok Sareen and their relatives.

The Nangyal Trust floated by former Ladakhi ruler Rani Parvati Devi had been transferred to a multi-national company Turner Morrison, said Mr Bansal.

The society formed by Canara Bank operating in the public sector, in the name of Canara Bank Relief and Rehabilitation society had been sold to a society headed by Sharada Sareen. The file relating to the society was missing from the DDA office and the authority had filed an FIR in May 2006 before the police.

Mr Bansal said the DDA had cancelled the lease of these societies and legal proceedings were on.

The court directed the DDA Vice Chairman to come with the file regarding the Canara Bank society.

With regard to the Chatrapati Shivaji Foundation, which houses the office of Indian Express, the court asked the DDA to file its report by Thursday.

Senior Counsel Arun Jaitley appearing for the Foundation submitted that the DDA and MCD should not have sealed the vacant building. The Foundation had already reduced the rented area to its stipulated norms by asking the Indian Express and Team India to vacate many rooms.

UNI PAT DKA HT1900