The Hindu : New Delhi News : Mayor denies scam charges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 18, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Mayor denies scam charges

Staff Reporter

"No land grabbing or illegal construction at the Saket Cultural Club"

NEW DELHI: Denying all allegations levelled against him by BJP MLA Vijay Jolly, Delhi Mayor Satbir Singh on Thursday stated that there was no land grabbing or illegal construction at the Saket Cultural Club in South Delhi and all dues of the Club have been paid and proper licences and permissions taken for various activities. "These charges are blatant lies and politically motivated. The fact is that since I took over as the Club's president, things have improved. And I still enjoy the confidence of the Club's executive committee," he claimed.

Mr. Singh Showed receipts of property tax paid and copies of various licences including that obtained for serving liquor at a press conference here, Mr. Singh said: "There is no land grabbing and illegal construction activity inside and outside the Club premises. No portion of the Club has been leased out to anyone, while for opening of bar and nightclub, proper licence and clearances have been duly taken."

Questioning Mr. Jolly's role in the entire episode, the Mayor shot back: "The BJP MLA is neither a member of the Club nor its functionary. He was just speaking on behalf of those former office-bearers of the Club whose mismanagement and anarchy led to the Club earning a bad name and incurring huge financial losses. They bungled with members' money and used it for their personal gains."

Claiming that it was on the request of the Club members a couple of years ago that he took charge of the affairs of the Club and worked hard for its financial turnaround, Mr. Singh asserted that he still enjoyed the confidence of all Club members.

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