New Delhi: Paving the way for trial of Narayan Diwakar, the alleged kingpin of Rs 4000-crore Taj Co-operative Group Housing Scheme scam, a special CBI court has framed charges against him and four others in the 7-year-old case.
Besides, Diwakar, former registrar of co-operative society (RCS) official, the court framed charges of cheating,forgery, criminal conspiracy and corruption against Ram Nath, and Faiz Mohammed, former inspectors of RCS and Anna Wankhede and DN Sharma, officials of the defunct Taj Society which was allegedly revived by all the accused to get land allotted from DDA at a cheaper rate.
The CBI had lodged the case on July 29, 2005 against six persons. However, the court discharged Srichand, a builder, saying the agency has not found sufficient evidence against him.
"I find that a prima facie case to frame charge under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery) and 471 (using forged documents) of IPC and section 13 (2) read with 13(1)(d) (relating to criminal Misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 is made out against accused Wankhede, Diwakar, Sharma, Ram Nath and Faiz Mohd," Special CBI Judge RP Pandey said.
"Accused Srichand stands discharged and his bail bond is cancelled and surety stands discharged," the judge added.
The CBI had alleged that the Taj housing society was set up in 1972 and wound up in 1979 by RCS, but Diwakar allegedly approved the proposal to revive it with the help of forged documents and signatures in connivance with other accused persons on March 11, 2004.
PTI
