Centre orders probe into Sangh plot scam

Two years after The Indian Express expose on largescale allotment of prime plots in the Capital to organisations linked to the RSS, the UP...

Two years after The Indian Express expose on largescale allotment of prime plots in the Capital to organisations linked to the RSS, the UPA government today ordered a probe into 8216;8216;cases of allotment of land made by the Land and Development Office since 1998-99.8217;8217;

The Ministry of Urban Development, in its order, appointed a one-man committee, retired bureaucrat Yogesh Chandra, to 8216;8216;inquire into the matter and review all cases of allotment made by L038;DO to various social, cultural, religious, educational institutions since 1998-99.8217;8217;

The committee, which has been told to submit its report within two months, has been asked to 8216;8216;recommend action in cases where deviations from the prescribed procedure and/or fulfilment of conditions of allotment are observed.8217;8217;

It has also been empowered to 8216;8216;suggest guidelines for allotment of land in future by the Land and Development Office in a fair, objective and transparent manner.8217;8217;

The Land and Development Office has been directed by the Ministry to 8216;8216;place all relevant records before the committee and provide necessary assistance to the committee in conducting the inquiry.8217;8217;

Confirming that his Ministry had ordered the probe, Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told The Indian Express that 8216;8216;the committee has been asked to submit the report within two months and no further extension will be given.8217;8217;

Official sources said that 8216;8216;each and every case will be verified8217;8217; since allotments to RSS affiliates had been made during the tenure of the BJP-led government.

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The sources pointed to the Ministry order which notes that 8216;8216;there are also cases of allotment of more than one plot of land to some organisations.8217;8217;

*The Express* story: how Sangh affiliates landed prime space**

	nbsp;	In August 2002, The Indian Express obtained records of the Land and Development Office from the Urban Development Ministry for the years 1996-2002. Of the 209 allotments, 115 had gone to Government departments. Of the remaining 94 8212; educational, cultural, religious and political institutions 8212; a huge chunk had gone to Sangh affiliates or those with BJP links. These included: 8226; Samarth Siksha Samiti 8226; Vishwa Hindu Parishad 8226; Vaish Agarwal Education Society 8226; Agroha Vikas Trust 8226; Students Experience in Inter-State Living	nbsp;