Aditya Singh denies charges

Describing the charge that Bhatia favoured him in granting permission for purchase of the land as quot;untrue, false and fabricated by vested interestsquot; Singh said he had purchased the land after completing the legal formalities.

He said he was permitted by the district collector to purchase 18 acres of land under 8220;Mahar watan8221; after fulfilling the conditions mentioned in the government order.

Singh said he had made the payment through crossed cheques. He had paid a higher price than the approved government rates.

He made it clear that the land was acquired by two registered sale deeds in 1998 and the deeds were registered by the members of Mahar Watandar families in the presence of sub-registrar at Paud. He said he had sought permission to purchase the land in June 1996 when Bhatia was not the divisional commissioner. He, however, admitted that Bhatia was the divisional commissioner when he obtained permission in 1998.

On the allegedly missing file8217; from the collectorate, he denied having taken any file from the collector8217;s office. He pointed out that even the court, while granting him anticipatory bail, had denied that he had anything to do with the missing file in any manner.

He said granting permission to purchase 8220;Mahar Watan8221; land was a routine matter and about 50 such cases were sanctioned every year. He said the divisional commissioner ratifies the recommendation made by the district collector after receiving the facts from talathi, circle officer and tehsildar. He also made it clear that the divisional commissioner had no role in giving any permission to the purchase of the land.