Particular decide Prashant Sharma likened corruption to a illness that calls for an aggressive treatment. “Corruption is like most cancers and desires chemotherapy. Subsequently, the offence of corruption must be handled an iron hand,” the court docket mentioned whereas announcing the sentence on October 31.
The case pertains to the fraudulent revival of defunct housing societies to acquire land allotments from the Delhi Growth Authority (DDA). The court docket noticed that the rip-off not solely harm the economic system but additionally eroded public religion in establishments. “Corruption is against democracy and social order. It impacts the economic system and destroys cultural heritage. Except nipped within the bud, it's more likely to trigger turbulence,” the decide famous.
The 13 people had been convicted on October 13 within the Safdarjung Cooperative Group Housing Society case. These sentenced to 5 years in jail together with fines embody Karamvir Singh, Narender Kumar, Maha Nan Sharma, Pankaj Madan, Ahawni Sharma, Ashutosh Pant, Sudershan Tandon, Manoj Vats, Vijay Thakur, Vikas Madan and Poonam Awasthi. Retired IAS officer Gopal Dixit, 84, and 92-year-old Narender Dheer obtained two-year sentences with fines.
In keeping with the CBI, the group conspired to revive defunct societies utilizing cast paperwork, obtained DDA land allotments, and bought the proposed flats at inflated costs by way of new members and brokers. The rip-off, a part of a wider community involving over 135 faux societies, left many patrons with out houses however saddled with heavy EMIs.
Rejecting pleas for leniency, the court docket dismissed the convicts' arguments that they'd households to assist. “In the event that they had been so involved and delicate about their households, then why did they commit the offences?” the decide requested.The court docket mentioned the motive behind the rip-off was clear: “The ulterior motive and/or greed on this case was to get property in Delhi come what may, decrease than the market worth by forging paperwork of the society in query.”The CBI had filed a number of FIRs in opposition to the builders, officers, and builders concerned, charging them with prison conspiracy, dishonest, forgery, and corruption below the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
With inputs from TOI
