Court orders FIR against illegal colony builders

The land mafia in Delhi is now targeting poor people by foxing them into buying illegal buildings raised on government lands. The mafia easily fools the poor in the garb of “dream home” at cheap prices.

The land mafia in Delhi is now targeting poor people by foxing them into buying illegal buildings raised on government lands. The mafia easily fools the poor in the garb of “dream home” at cheap prices.

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A Delhi court has ordered the registration of an FIR against the amassment of construction in progress at Vasant Kunj and nearby areas in south Delhi.

Through his counsel VK Pandey, a 72-year-old resident of Mahipalpur, Ram Prakash, filed a complaint in the court. Prakash’s complaint highlighted the illegal construction rampant on DDA land, right under the “nose of local police and government officials”.

Prakash in his complaint said that MCD officials, in collusion with land mafia, took possession of the DDA land and later constructed small one- and two-room flats there.

“These constructions were sold to the poor under the garb of colonies regularised by the government. Many people have opened shops and the rest have been converted into living accommodation,” Pandey told the court.

Metropolitan magistrate Naveen Kumar Kashyap said, “It is stated that the land owning agency DDA has not taken proper precautions for guarding of their property at Defence Enclave, Mahipalpur from encroachments”.

Slamming the police for its sloppy approach, the judge said, “Field investigation is required to find out and stop further trespassing upon government land in relation to the area in question. The SHO concerned is directed to register an FIR in relation to the complaint made.”

The court dismissed police arguments stating that the present complaint has been filed against police officials just to settle personal scores. The police said, “Ram Prakash is accused in various cases and the police officials, whom he targeted in his complaint, are the investigating officers in cases registered against him.”

The court noted that admittedly it appears as per documentary evidence, that trespassing was evident.

“The SHO concerned is directed to register the FIR within one week and file his compliance report on the next date of hearing,” the judge said.