New Delhi, Sept 03: More than nine years after eight persons, including former Union urban development minister Shiela Kaul's son-in-law, allegedly bribed top government officials to get clearance for acquiring a piece of prime land in south-west Delhi, a special court here today framed charges against them. Special judge (CBI) P K Bhasin framed charges against minister's son-in-law Ratan Kaul and seven others after finding prima facie that they bribed government officials to get no objection certificate (NOC) for the land they acquired in Vasant Kunj to construct buildings.
All the accused today pleaded not guilty following which the court framed charges against them under 120-B of IPC (conspiracy), 109 of IPC (abetment of any offence), and Section 9 of Prevention of Corruption Act. The court then fixed November 18 for evidence by prosecution.
Shiela Kaul's name is there in column number two of the charge sheet. Though she is not made an accused as CBI could not get sufficient evidence against her, the court can use its discretion and summon her.
The main accused in the case are Ratan Kaul and Manju Madan (both members of Jagjivan Ram Cooperative Housing Society), Joint Commissioner (customs) A K Shrivastav, Assitant Commissioner (security) S M Batra, managing committee members of the society R P Gupta, I P Gupta, Hawa Singh and A K Gupta. Bureau Report