Unitech case: Delhi Police search 37 locations in three states

NEW DELHI: Search and seizure operations were conducted at 37 locations in Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan by Delhi Police’s Crime Branch on Monday as a part of the probe in the Unitech case.
The premises included residences of Unitech Ltd owners Ramesh Chandra, Ajay Chandra, Sanjay Chandra and their employees.
An FIR under Prevention of Corruption Act, etc was filed against the Chandra brothers and others on October 12 after which a team under the supervision of Delhi Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana conducted a preliminary investigation and submitted its report to Supreme Court.
On October 25, search and seizure operations were conducted at the residences of the Chandra family, apart from former superintendent, ex-deputy superintendent, assistant superintendents, head warders, warders and contractual staff of Tihar Jail number 7.
Special commissioner (crime) Devesh Srivastava confirmed the developments. Evidence in the form of mobile phones, documents, etc were seized, he added.
Earlier, Crime Branch had found 32 officials of Tihar Jail complicit with Ajay and Sanjay Chandra in this matter. Asthana had written to the Union ministry of home affairs and director general of Delhi prisons for taking action.
Supreme Court had asked Asthana to probe the nexus after taking note of a status report filed by Enforcement Directorate, which highlighted certain disturbing facts relating to the manner in which the premises of Central Jail at Tihar had been misused by the Chandras.
The ED’s report elaborated on how the Chandra brothers threatened witnesses, apart from operating a free communications network and sending instructions from inside the jail. The accused engaged in illegal activities by flouting the jail manual and also transferred assets and dissipating the proceeds of crime from their secret office.
The apex court had transferred both the brothers from Tihar Jail to Arthur Road and Taloja Central jails in Mumbai. The police chief had submitted a report in this regard on September 28 after visiting Mumbai and Tihar jails as a part of the investigation.
On October 6, Supreme Court granted permission to conduct a full-fledged criminal investigation in the matter based on the inquiry conducted by Delhi Police. The court also directed the Tihar administration to suspend the officials complicit in the crime.