‘Murdered NDMC lawyer offered Rs4 crore bribe but he refused’

Mohammed Moin Khan, a lawyer and an assistant legal advisor with the New Delhi Municipal Council, was supposed to pass the final order on a disputed property’s lease terms on May 17

Mohammed Moin Khan, a lawyer and an assistant legal advisor with the New Delhi Municipal Council, was supposed to pass the final order on a disputed property’s lease terms on May 17. He was shot dead on May 16 near his Jamia Nagar home.

Khan had been offered R4 crore as bribe but he declined and lost his life, a friend said. (REUTERS)

“He had joined NDMC’s law department in 1984-85. He had completed over 30 years on the job and had more than a year of service left. His uncle was also an employee of the council,” a senior council official said.

He said Khan was under tremendous pressure to waive off licence fee dues on a property occupied by Prominent Hotels Limited. The property was sealed last year when the company did not evict after the expiry of the lease. The firm moved the court, the official said.

“On the direction of the high court, Khan was made the Estate Officer. The Delhi high court had directed him to complete eviction proceedings within 6 months. He was to pass final order in the lease matter, which is a quasi-judicial action, on May 17,” the official said.

Read: Delhi hotelier, five others detained for NDMC lawyer’s murder

A friend of Khan said he used to get threat calls and was offered bribe.

“Khan could decide the exact amount to be paid as licence fee. There was pressure on him and he received numerous threat calls. The dues were around R140 crore and Khan had been offered R4 crore as bribe. He declined and lost his life,” a friend of the lawyer said.

Condolence meeting

A condolence meeting was organised by NDMC on Wednesday in memory of the deceased lawyer.

“He was a courageous, honest and dedicated officer and his administrative acumen, clarity of thoughts and ability to take fair and bold decisions was widely appreciated. The Council understands the depth of pain the entire family must feeling right now and at this juncture the NDMC stands united with the family of Late MM Khan,” NDMC chairman Naresh Kumar said.