Mumbai/Pune, Jan 31 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation Tuesday conducted searches at the Pune residences and offices of two former army and defence officials and a builder in a land grab case and seized incriminating documents.
Earlier this month, the CBI had registered a preliminary enquiry of misconduct by officials in transferring a plot of land in possession of the Central Ordnance Depot to Kalpataru Builders.
In connection with the case, the CBI conducted searches at residences of Lt. Gen. (retd) Noble Thamburaj, who served as Southern Army commander, and former defence estate officer (Pune circle) S.R. Nayyar and offices of Kalpatru Builders after a complaint was registered for offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct.
‘The complaint was forwarded by defence ministry itself to CBI for investigation. Thamburaj and Nayyar had shown favour to Kalpatru Builders in the matter of property at Bungalow No. 8A, Lothian Road, Survey No. 241-A measuring area 0.96 acres of B-3 Defence Land at Pune Cantonment,’ a CBI official said.
‘Thamburaj and Nayyar settled this matter out of court in spite of the verdict in favour of army, which is a gross misconduct on the part of public servants,’ he added.
The official said the officials had by ignoring existing rules and policies, violated the terms of lease and caused pecuniary advantage to Kalpatru Builders to the tune of Rs.46 crore without any public interest.
