New Delhi, April 1
The CBI today arrested CEO of DLF Universal Ltd Ajay Khanna for allegedly bribing DDA officials.
The agency has alleged that Mr Khanna was in touch with a tout Dharam Bir Khattar, who was acting on behalf of former DDA Vice-Chairman Subhash Sharma. Mr Khanna allegedly promised Khattar to pay Rs 1.10 crore to be shared with the DDA officials, as an illegal gratification, for favouring DLF on the floor area ratio (FAR), charging them much less than the prevailing market rates in one of their projects.
CBI sources said that Mr Khanna was arrested today in the CBI office, where he was called for interrogation. Khattar had absconded. The CBI said efforts were being made to trace him.
It may be recalled that offices and residences of several top officials of Delhi Development Authority (DDA), including its Vice-Chairman Subhash Sharma, were raided by the CBI, on March 26. The raids yielded Rs 44 lakh, incriminating documents, computer data and locker keys from offices and residences of two DDA officials.
The scandal has already taken a toll on important functionaries not only of the DDA but also the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). While Mr Subhash Sharma, who was alleged by the CBI of entering into a criminal conspiracy with the DLF officials was shifted out the next day after the raids, NDMC’s Chairperson Ms Parminder Mandip Singh was today replaced by Mr Narayanaswami.
