CBI officer tried to shield accused in MCD land scam

The probe against the 2G scam prosecutor is not the only instance when CBI officers have come under the scanner in a high-profile case. Rajesh Ahuja reports.

The probe against the 2G scam prosecutor is not the only instance when CBI officers have come under the scanner in a high-profile case.

HT Image

The investigating agency has also registered an FIR against one of its former officers for not filing case documents and statement of witnesses in court with 'intent to save accused persons from punishment' in the multi-crore MCD land scam case.

The case involved former Delhi Assembly canteen contractor Ashok Malhotra.

Due to the non-availability of documents and statement of witnesses, the trial in the case has been stalled for more than a year.

Despite its best efforts, the CBI has not been able to trace seven vital documents and all but one statement of witness. Without them, the trial cannot resume. "The CBI has now approached the Delhi High Court for an way out of the situation," said a source.

Documents seen by HT show that on August 16, 2007, the CBI had registered a case in connection with large-scale illegal and fictitious allotment of plots under the re-settlement scheme of slum and JJ department against private persons and MCD officials.

Investigating officer, Inspector DK Thakur filed a chargesheet in the case against 12 persons on November 17, 2007 but along with it he allegedly didn't file relied upon documents and statement of witnesses.

Thakur was arrested by the CBI for allegedly taking a bribe from an acquaintance of an accused in the case. He remained in judicial custody. Thakur was removed from the case but since then the documents and statement of witnesses are missing. Investigators allege that despite reminders, Thakur didn't hand over the documents. Departmental proceedings were initiated against him and he was dismissed from service in September last year.

Now the agency has filed an FIR against him on the charges of disobeying directions of law with intent to save a person from punishment and criminal breach of trust by a public servant.