INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - NOVEMBER 16^th - NOVEMBER 30^th - 2007

SUPREME COURT ASKS CBI TO CONTINUE WITH NOIDA PLOT SCAM PROBE

The Supreme Court has asked CBI to continue investigations into the Rs 200 crore Noida land scam that occurred during Mulayam Singh Yadav's tenure as chief minister.

Taking note of the stand of the present state government, the apex court dismissed the plea of Noida Authority challenging the Allahabad high court order directing the CBI to probe irregularities in the allotments of such prime plots located at the outskirts of capital.

A bench comprising Justice H K Sema and Justice Aftab Alam said: "Since Noida authority and UPDESCO (Uttar Pradesh Development System Corporation Ltd) have no objection to complying with the Allahabad High Court order, the appeal does not survive".

During the rule of Mulayam Singh Yadav in the state, Noida Authority had moved the apex court challenging high court order. But with the change of guard in the state, the Mayawati-led government had recommended to the Centre for a CBI probe into irregularities in the allotment of such plots.

The controversial draw of list includes the names of Sheeba Sabharwal, daughter-in-law of the former CJI Y K Sabharwal and Aarohi Bhalla, son of acting Chief Justice of Chattisgarh high court Justice Bhalla, whose promotion was questioned by the former President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Among politicians who were declared successful in a draw of lots where Munni Devi, Rewti Raman Singh, Rashid Masood, Jai Prakash (Samajwadi Party) and Ashok Pradhan (BJP). Congress had alleged that such allotment of land were largess given to then ruling SP MLAs.

However, the apex court in its interim order on November 11, 2005, had stayed the CBI investigation into the matter.

On July 2, 2005, the then Mulayam Singh government had allotted around 1250 residential plots in Noida through draw of lots.

However, two days later it was cancelled due to public outcry and complaint by a Noida entrepreneur body.