Retd DDA official who advised Kumar held

The Economic Offences Wing detained a retired Delhi Development Authority official in connection with the irregularities committed in the 2008 housing scheme, reports Vijaita Singh.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Wednesday detained a retired Delhi Development Authority (DDA) official in connection with the irregularities committed in the 2008 housing scheme.

HT Image

Police said ML Gautam, who retired from the telephone department of the DDA in 2004, had reportedly told Deepak Kumar —whistle-blower in the case who was arrested for his alleged role — to apply under the reserved category. “Both Kumar and Gautam are residents of Paschim Vihar (in Delhi) and the two met during morning walks. Gautam told Kumar that the chances of getting a flat under the SC/ST category were higher than in the general category and Kumar, with his associates, got the forms filled using forged documents. We are questioning him,” said SBK Singh, additional CP (EOW).

Police said Kumar had put the mobile phone number (09784277346) of Raghuvir Singh, who filed an FIR in the case, on 27 application forms with names of villagers from Jhunjhunu.

The call records of Kumar’s phone show that he was in touch with a Sonepat-based builder who was reportedly threatening him.

Kumar, who worked as a direct selling agent with two banks, was identified by Laxmi Narayan Meena — the first person to be arrested in the case — on Tuesday. Meena said he had come to Jhunjhunu to collect the forms of ST applicants.

Meena, a local politician of Jhunjhunu, kept parallel set of documents of all the applicants with him. During recent raids, police seized those documents that included forged PAN cards and caste certificates.

Meanwhile, police identified 13 property dealers who were involved in the scam and raids were conducted.

Delhi Police also said they were examining applications by people of the Northeast, especially from Manipur, and the largely tribal states of Jharkhand and Chattishgarh.

“We have information that about 900 applications were submitted by people belonging to Manipur. We are looking into whether there is any fraud involved,” an official said.