The Hindu : New Delhi News : DDA orders probe into flats scam

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Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009
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New Delhi

DDA orders probe into flats scam

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Sets up three-member committee headed by Member (Finance) Nand Lal

Panel told to submit report in three days
Delhi police too conducting investigation

NEW DELHI: Delhi Development Authority Vice-Chairman Ashok Kumar Nigam has ordered a high-level inquiry by a three-member committee headed by Member (Finance) Nand Lal into alleged “discrepancies and irregularities in the allotment of flats” under the DDA Housing Scheme-2008.

Noting that reports had appeared in the media alleging discrepancies and irregularities in the allotment of flats, particularly in the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes category, the official said it was necessary to look into the whole process of allotment of flats and alleged irregularities.

As such, he said, a high-level committee had been constituted in which besides Mr. Lal, the Deputy Commissioner for Land Acquisition and the Director Vigilance of DDA would be the other members.

The committee will call for copies of all the complaints received with regard to the alleged scam as well as all the papers relevant to the draw of lots of flats under the housing scheme.

The committee has been told to submit its report within three days.

The Union Urban Development Ministry had also sought a report from Mr. Nigam on the issue. Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy had on Monday declared that every aspect of the scheme would now be probed as part of the inquiry that is being conducted and if need be the Central Bureau of Investigation would be directed to look into “the whole matter”.

Mr. Nigam has also marked a copy of the letter to Commissioner (Housing) Asma Manzar -- who had on Monday claimed that “there was not even one per cent irregularity in the draw of lots for the flats” – directing her to provide all the relevant documents to the committee.

The Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi police is also seized of the matter and is conducting an independent probe.

It has questioned a chartered accountant for his role and is probing how several people in Rajasthan – who had furnished the same phone number – got allotted when the probability of allotment was very low considering there were nearly 5.67 lakh applicants for the 5,000-odd flats on offer and despite the computerised draw having taken place in the presence of several observers.

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