Too little time to probe scam: Officials

A probe team formed by the DDA to conduct an internal inquiry into allegations of irregularity in the draw of lots to 5,238 flats has expressed its inability to complete their investigations by January 9, the deadline given to it.

A probe team formed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to conduct an internal inquiry into allegations of irregularity in the draw of lots to 5,238 flats has expressed its inability to complete their investigations by January 9 — the deadline given to it.

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Under pressure from the Union Urban Development Ministry (UDM), DDA vice-chairman A.K. Nigam had constituted a three-member committee on January 6 to inquire into the process of allotment of flats and alleged irregularities. The committee was given three days to submit its report.

Sources said the committee had written to the Nigam asking for more time on the grounds that it was not possible to complete such sensitive investigations in three days. “The committee has now been asked to submit its report by January 24,” said the source.

“The committee felt they would not be able to do justice to the probe in three days and there was no point of rushing through it,” said a source.

The mandate of the probe team is to check whether DDA had followed all procedures for holding the lottery. “They will go through the selected applications to see if there was any irregularity,” said a senior DDA official.

The committee is headed by DDA financial advisor Nand Lal and has two members — deputy legal advisor B.K. Gupta and director, vigilance Alok Swarup.

Allegations have been leveled against the DDA that a cartel of builders had forged documents and availed loans to get flats under the reserved category.

The allegations pertain mostly to allotment of 1,465 flats — 28 per cent of 5,238 — reserved for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people, war widows, physically challenged and ex-servicemen.