‘40 people involved in DDA fraud’

Mithan Lal Gautam, the retired DDA employee had told several people belonging to the Scheduled Caste category that he was using their details to fill in applications of the housing scheme for the “welfare of the community”, reports Vijaita Singh.

Mithan Lal Gautam, the retired Delhi Development Authority (DDA) employee had told several people belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category that he was using their details to fill in applications of the housing scheme for the “welfare of the community”.

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Gautam (64) who was arrested by the economic offences wing on January 15 had cornered 40 flats for himself under the SC category.

Police said he reportedly took information mainly from residents of Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh and applied on their behalf. He even made his son sign an agreement with the applicants promising them Rs 1 lakh if they bagged a flat.

“We are trying to locate the successful allottees in Bulandshahar. We might take action against them if it is substantiated that they signed the agreement papers knowingly and willingly. Then the number of accused could go up to more than 40,” a police officer said.

Police said they were questioning Gautam, presently in their custody, for details about others involved in the racket. “We are identifying the people whom Gautam has named during his interrogation. So far he has named 10 and we are verifying their names and addresses,” the officer added.

One more questioned

The economic offences wing on Sunday interrogated another direct selling agent of a bank for his involvement in the scam. Naresh Kumar was questioned as his name cropped up several times during the probe of Gautam and Deepak Kumar, the whistleblower who was arrested.