Delhi Government freezes allotment of fancy vehicle registration numbers

The Delhi government on Monday banned the issuance of fresh VIP registration numbers for vehicles in the wake of a land scam in which the main accused had acquired a bunch of such fancy numbers, allegedly on the recommendations of several Congress leaders.

New Delhi, Aug 6 : The Delhi government on Monday banned the issuance of fresh VIP registration numbers for vehicles in the wake of a land scam in which the main accused had acquired a bunch of such 'fancy' numbers, allegedly on the recommendations of several Congress leaders.

Announcing the State Cabinet's decision to freeze the issuance of such numbers, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said: "The freeze on issuance of fancy numbers will remain till the Transport Department comes out with a new policy for it."

The State Cabinet also directed the Transport Commissioner to formulate a comprehensive policy on the allotment of such numbers.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested Delhi-based contractor Ashok Malhotra, the prime accused in the multi-million-rupee city land scam, who owned a fleet of luxury vehicles with fancy numbers.

Malhotra was taken into custody after he surfaced at a private news channel, Zee News, in Noida today morning where he offered to surrender, provided the CBI interrogates him in the presence of his legal team.

"I was hiding out of fear. There is a threat to my life," he said.

However, Malhotra did not divulge the name of any politician.

"I have no connection with politicians," he said, adding, "I will reveal everything at the designated CBI court."

When asked about the media reports that he possessed 52 luxury cars, Malhotra said he owned only 17 cars and six motorcycles.

When asked about VIP number plates on his car, he said that this is his passion.

The CBI raided Malhotra's residences on July 27 and August 2.

After a raid at his residence, it was found that Malhotra possessed 17 luxury cars with VIP number plates, Rs 17 lakh in cash and about seven kilograms of gold.

He also said that his property is not even worth Rs 10 crore and that all of it is well documented.

There are allegations that Malhotra in connivance with five DDA officials fraudulently acquired plots in the Dhirpur area that were meant for the resettlement of slum dwellers during 2000-02.

Special Judge S K Kaushik has directed the CBI to produce Malhotra in the court on or before August 14. The agency had yesterday secured a non-bailable warrant of arrest from a city court for the contractor.

ANI