HC denies Malhotra bail in land scam case

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today denied bail to prime accused in multicrore land scam case Ashok Malhotra, who had sought it terming his detention illegal.

A lower court recently remanded the ''chhole-bhature'' vendor for 20 days after he had already spent 90 days behind the bars.

A division bench, headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Reva Khetrapal ordered Malhotra's habeas corpus petition dismissed.

Malhotra's counsel argued that his custody was illegal as he had already spent 90 days in jail during investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The 90-day period was the longest permitted for custody during interrogation, Malhotra's counsel argued.

However, the bench asked Malhotra to file a separate petition in the High Court to quash an FIR against him in the case.

The High Court had also restrained the lower court on Wednesday from passing any order against Malhotra till its decision on the plea.

According to the CBI, Malhotra, the kingpin of the scam, prepared fake and forged documents like ration cards, identity cards, photographs and bank documents in the name of fictitious applicants to grab plots unlawfully.

Filing six charge sheets in the lower court on November 5, the investigating agency had nailed Malhotra and others for allegedly making crores of rupees through fake plot allotments in collusion with Delhi Assembly Under Secretary Lal Mani and the officials of DDA and MCD.

Malhotra was arrested on August 6 this year from a private news channel studio in Noida.

UNI

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