While seeking the custody of M L Gautam, retired DDA official detained on Wednesday and formally arrested today, an officer of the EOW told the court that as many as 1,200 forms for the scheme were recovered from Gautam’s home, and, notably, all forms belonged to SC category applicants. “1200 filled-up forms of the SC category, which were submitted to the DDA, have been recovered during a search of his house, and 40 of these applicants emerged as successful allottees under the scheme after the draw,” the officer said.

Contending that the house search was conducted in the presence of an independent witness, so as to press charges at a later stage, the EOW told the court the forms were recovered along with all other documents required for applying under the scheme.

The documents picked up also included identities of the financers who allegedly funded the applications under the scheme, the agency stated. The EOW also found various blank documents, including power of attorneys and receipts of loan applications in Gautam’s house. A number of blank documents carrying signatures of applicants were also reportedly recovered during the probe.

Modus operandi
In another disclosure, the agency submitted before the court that Gautam had prepared for each successful applicant an agreement between the aspirant and a close relative of his. The agreement stated that the flat would be transferred in the name of Gautam’s relative, after the applicant was paid Rs 1 lakh as total consideration for relinquishing rights over the property, the EOW claimed. As many as 40 such agreements were recovered.