Date:07/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/07/stories/2009010756400300.htm

New Delhi

DDA allotments on hold till end of probe

Madhur Tankha

‘There was no wrongdoing in draw of lots’

‘If necessary, we will even direct the CBI to look into the whole matter’
‘Even judges or experts from the IIT can supervise our draw’

NEW DELHI: Asserting that there was no wrongdoing in the Delhi Development Authority’s new housing scheme under which over 5,000 flats were allotted this past month, Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy has said every aspect of the scheme would now be probed as part of the inquiry already under way. He has instructed the DDA to stop allotment of flats till the probe is complete.

“Let the report come out. If necessary, we will even direct the Central Bureau of Investigation to look into the whole matter,” Mr. Reddy said.

Earlier in the day, the DDA claimed that there was no bungling in its draw of lots despite the fact that the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police was initiating an inquiry into alleged use of fraudulent methods by certain property dealers to secure allotment under the reserved category that includes the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, physically handicapped, ex-Servicemen and war widows.

DDA Commissioner (Housing) Asma Manzar told media persons that not a single person would get possession of a flat if the documents were found to be forged.

“All applications were fed into a computer. We had checked the eligibility criteria like names, addresses and PAN card numbers. Not a single person will get the possession letter till we have verified the authenticity of the documents. Advertisements were placed in newspapers by DDA urging people not to rely on property dealers. It was not possible to verify each and every application. However, we can say that there was not even one per cent irregularity in the draw of lots for the flats,” she said. Stating that the DDA always adopts the same procedure for its housing schemes, Ms. Manzar said it had come to light that some property dealers had tried to contact people whose names were among the allottees. “We will not spare anyone who has forged documents. Even judges or experts from the IIT can supervise our draw. As per law we have to conduct the draw and refund money to those who haven’t got the flats within the stipulated period of three months. So far we have not issued any demand or possession letter to anyone,” she added.

Asserting that the draw was absolutely transparent, DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar said it was possible that people with identical names had applied for the flats. “We have found three applicants in the name of Pankaj Gupta but they all have divergent addresses, photographs and PAN card numbers. In the first phase, there were 130 double applicants and they were rejected.”