Delhi HC dismisses Ashok Malhotras release request

New Delhi, Nov 30: The Delhi High Court today dismissed of Ashok Malhotras plea for his release from jail in connection with a multi-crore land scam.

New Delhi, Nov 30: The Delhi High Court today dismissed of Ashok Malhotra's plea for his release from jail in connection with a multi-crore land scam.

The Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Reva Khetrapal headed bench rejected Malhotra's petition in which he had claimed that his custody was illegal, as he had already spent the required number of 90 days behind bars during investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Malhotra, the kingpin of the scam, prepared fake and forged documents in the name of non-existent applicants to grab plots unlawfully, claims the CBI.

On August 6, the CBI arrested the Delhi-based contractor while he was giving an interview to a private news channel (Zee News) in Noida.

Malhotra's residences were raided by the CBI 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.

Malhotra, however, claims 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.

ANI