MCD orders vigilance inquiry into reports of scam 'cover-up'

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi today ordered a vigilance inquiry into reports that its officials were involved in a cover-up operation in connection with the multi-crore land scam, involving contractor Ashok Malhotra.

''Municipal Commissioner A K Nigam has ordered a vigilance inquiry into the contents of the news report concerning Slum and JJ department,'' an official statement said.

The Commissioner has sought the report within seven days, it added.

Malhotra had allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with five DDA officials to fraudulently acquire plots in Dhirpur area that were meant for resettlement of slum dwellers during 2000-02.

The CBI was in the process of classifying "thousands and thousands'' of documents recovered during raids on July 27 and August 2 at Malhotra's residential premises in Mukherjee Nagar and other places.

The news report said within hours of publishing the story about the accused, who created a business worth Rs 100 crore, at least 2,700 files containing proof of allotment of resettlement colony plots to fictitious entities have gone missing.

''Many of the documents were burnt on Friday in the MCD offices even as CBI continued its hunt for clinching evidence of the plot allotment scam.

Searches at the residential premises of Malhotra revealed that he was in possession of 17 luxury cars having VIP number plates, Rs 17 lakh cash and about seven kg of gold.

UNI