Court command police commissioner to probe case officer’s role in Adel fraud

Email

GURGAON :On Thursday The district court has come down heavily on the officer investigating the case of alleged Rs 1,000 crore fraud by developer Adel Landmarks (formerly ERA Landmarks), for concealing information from the court. It has asked the Gurgaon police commissioner to initiate a probe against the officer.

The court of additional district and sessions judge Phalit Sharma, which on Thursday had rejected the bail application of H S Bharana, chairman and MD of Adel Landmarks, noted in its order that sub-inspector Devender Singh of the economic offences wing (EOW), chose to conceal information pertaining to the number of cases pending against the accused.

“This court would like to observe about the conduct of investigating officer SI Devender Singh, EOW cell, Gurgaon, who, for reasons best known to him, did not mention the pendency of many cases against the applicant accused. The cause of concealment of this vital information on his part, is required to be probed in detail by the commissioner of police, so that the investigating officer, if had intentionally concealed the fact, is taken to task,” the order noted (TOI has a copy).

While rejecting Bharana’s bail plea, the court took cognizance of the 120 police complaints and 49 FIRs registered against the directors of Adel Landmarks. “It is a case which could easily be equated with the infamous case of Sahara Group, which had caused wrongful loss to innocent investors to the tune of thousands of crores, and even the Hon’ble apex court has not shown mercy therein, keeping in view the involvement of interest of the public at large,” judge Sharma noted in his July 30 order.

The order further noted the court action would act as deterrent to other builders who resort to illegal activities. “The court is not inclined to grant regular bail to the applicant-accused. Release of such a fraudster, who is prima facie a habitual offender because of the pendency of several similar cases against him, will encourage like-minded builders who are in plenty in this part of the state, to fleece money from investors who are ignorant of builders’ illegal acts,” judge Sharma observed.

When contacted, police commissioner Navdeep Singh Virk said, “I have not seen the order yet and can’t comment on it. Directions of the court will be adhered to and action will be taken after a probe.”

KK Kathuria, legal counsel for the investors said,” It seems that that the accused have colluded with some police officials because till today, none of the three other accused have been arrested. Why are efforts for reaching a compromise being made? The compromise would not exonerate the accused from the charges of offence.”