Patel and colleagues allotted land worth crores on forged papers. The LG’s order marks another tough step in weeding out corruption in land allotments.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, Sept 30 — In yet another stern signal against corruption in the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has ordered the dismissal of Rishi Patel, an Assistant Section Officer, for his role in a fraudulent land allotment case in Safdarjung Enclave dating back to 2020.
Patel, along with two colleagues, was found guilty of colluding to allot land worth crores of rupees in South Delhi’s posh Safdarjung Enclave on the basis of forged documents. Earlier this year, another DDA officer, Assistant Director Dilshad Ahmad, was dismissed in the same case. The LG has also asked the DDA to re-examine the punishment handed to Paras Nath, a Deputy Director who has since retired.
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The case traces back to a 1979 recommendation letter by the Land & Building Department for allotment of an alternative plot to one Smt. Prabha Kshetrapal. However, subsequent communication from 1981 directed the DDA not to act on such recommendations without higher confirmation. After nearly four decades, in July 2020, emails were sent to the DDA from an account claiming to represent Kshetrapal, demanding possession of the said plot.
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Despite red flags, the DDA moved quickly. In October and November 2020, letters purportedly from the Land & Building Department claimed the old recommendation was valid and allowed the process to continue. Acting on these, DDA handed over possession of the plot on January 5, 2021.
The fraud began to unravel in February 2021, when doubts over the authenticity of the letters surfaced. The Land & Building Department later confirmed that the documents from October and November 2020 were forged or altered. Consequently, the allotment was cancelled in June 2021.
Following advice from the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), major disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Patel, Ahmad, and Nath. Investigations found that Patel, as the dealing assistant, Ahmad, as the approving authority, and Nath, as the supervising official, had failed to verify crucial documents, ignored differing signatures of the allottee, and neglected mandatory procedures.
The LG’s latest order has not only dismissed Patel from service but also directed the DDA to review Nath’s case under Regulation 32(G) of the DDA Conduct Rules, to determine whether further action is warranted.
Officials said the action underscores the LG’s message that corruption and connivance in land allotments — especially cases involving forged recommendations — will invite the harshest penalties.
