Ashok Jain sent to 7 days CBI custody

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) Special CBI judge S K Kausik today sent Ashok Jain, a bussinessman and an associate of prime accused Ashok Malhotra to seven-days CBI custody in the multi-crore DDA land scam case.

On September 3, S C Garg, another accused in the case, was sent to judicial custody till September 12.

Ashok Jain is said to be a close friend of Malhotra. Jain is a Karol Bagh-based readymade garments showroom owner who is also said to have political connections and is also very close to several senior MCD officials.

The jail authorities had been instructed by the judge to provide special security to Malhotra and bring him separately from other prison inmates as a precautionary measure.

Malhotra is accused of having entered into a criminal conspiracy with five DDA officials and fraudulently acquiring plots in Dhirpur area that were meant for resettlement of slum dwellers during 2000-02.

The Molarband resettlement scheme involves more than 700 plots.

Most of the allotments took place this year. According to the CBI, these illegally allotted plots were later sold at high prices.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Jain introduced Malhotra to MCD officials and struck deals with them on his behalf.

UNI