The investigation was started following complaints of S S Sharma, a social worker, who submitted various documents to Vigilance DSP Dilbagh Singh, who is probing the case.

Sharma has named various Municipal Town Planning (MTP) and former Municipal Corporation officials, including the former mayor and commissioner during whose tenure the plan of the project was passed, and sought an inquiry into their role in the discrepancies.

Seeking registration of a case under sections 409, 431 and 120-B of the IPC against persons involved, Sharma has demanded proper auction of the 20-foot-wide road as per the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976.

Sharma said the documents pertain to encroachment of the road, discrepancies in change of land use and violation of MC rules for getting the plan approved. “The work on the project has already been stalled following my previous complaint, but these irregularities require a scrutiny,” he said.

“The 20-foot-wide road, which is a part of the building scheme number 11-B, passed in December 1977, is situated on Hassan Mohammed Road, Mall Road and Lawrence Road and shares a boundary with Brahm Nagar area,” he said.

“The road, valued at more than Rs 4.88 crore, was illegally allotted to the developer without auctioning it, in violation of MC rules,” he averred.

Sharma claimed that only 3,449 square yards on the side of Omaxe Novelty project had undergone change of land use and fee amounting to more than Rs 69 lakh was charged, whereas the plan was approved for 4258.26 square yards.

“Registries for 4,405 square yards were attached at the time of approval, whereas the plan should have been passed for 3,449 square yards,” Sharma alleged.

He added that it was mandatory to seek government’s approval under Section 275 (3) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, but before that approval of the MC House has to be sought under Section 275 (1) and (2).

“But the MTP Department sent requisition to the government even before the approval of the House and it is still pending with the government,” he said.