Land scam kingpin Ashok Malhotra arrested

New Delhi, Aug 6: Ashok Malhotra, the prime suspect in capital's multi-crore land scam, was today arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after he surrendered in the studio of a private news channel.

A special CBI court on Saturday had issued a non-bailable warrant against Malhotra, after he failed to appear before the investigating agency.

Malhotra came to the Zee news studio this morning and denied all charges against him.

Denying any links with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Ram Babu Sharma, he said he had never met them.

However, he admitted that he knew MLAs Kunwar Karan Singh and Satpal Singh Bitto and took favours from them.

Claiming that he had been framed, Malhotra denied that the documents pertaining to Rs 5500 crore property had been found in his house during a CBI raid on July 27. He also denied that he owned 52 cars but admitted to possessing 17 vehicles.

The CBI team led by Superintendent of Police reached the Zee news studio where Malhotra had walked in this morning to put forth his stand.

He also claimed that his life was under threat, so he had sought media's help before surrendering to the CBI.

Malhotra, 52, was absconding after being accused of siphoning off millions of rupees in collusion with five Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials - who were nabbed last month - and a private contractor by selling plots meant for allotment to displaced slum-dwellers between 2000 and 2002.

The CBI had also claimed to have found several incriminating documents related to the land scam, Rs 1.7 million, 7 kg of gold and at least 50 luxury cars and 10 motorcycles - all bearing VIP number plates - from Malhotra's residence.

UNI