New Delhi: Noted lawyer Shanti Bhushan on Wednesday denied that he and his son Jayant were allotted 10000 square meter of farmland in NOIDA by the Mayawati government at a quarter of the market rate.
"The report in the 'Indian Express' this morning (Wednesday, April 20) mischievously suggests that Jayant Bhushan and I have taken two farm plots from Mayawati from her discretionary quota. This is also a part of the malicious campaign by those corrupt, influential people who are afraid that my presence in the drafting committee may result in a tough law against corruption in the form of a Lokpal bill," Shanti Bhushan said in a press release.
He claimed that the land allotted to Jayant and him was not from any discretionary quota.
"These are not allotment from any discretionary quota. In January 2009 a scheme was advertised by NOIDA authorities which was described as an open-ended scheme for allotment of farmhouse plots in NOIDA with size of plots 10,000 square meters or above. The rate of allotment was mentioned as 3,100 rupees per square meter plus location charges as applicable. Eligibility criteria and other details were mentioned in the brochure. A soft copy of the application form for allotment of farmhouse plots was also included in the brochure," he said.
"An amount of Rs 31,00,000 was payable with the application, which was paid along with the application in March 2009. Intimation about reservation of one plot was received on 18/1/2010. After identification of the plot numbers, a communication was received by NOIDA authorities on 5/1/2011 allotting plot number FH19 in sector 165 measuring 10,000 square meters which intimated that the total premium on the plots was 3,67,50,000 and registration money was 31,00,000 and the annual lease rent was to be 9,18,750 per year," he added.
Bhushan also said that they are yet to get possession of the said land.
"So far, possession has not been delivered, nor the lease deal executed. It is only after the plot has been made approachable by construction of roads that possession would be delivered and lease executed," said the senior lawyer.
"To suggest that the allotment has been obtained from any discretionary quota is totally false and misleading. In fact, when we applied in March 2009, and as required attached the project report prepared by an architect and a statement on the means and finance, showing that the entire amount would be available from our bank deposits, we also expected that if the number of applicants was more than the number of plots planned there would be a draw of lots and we were surprised when an intimation in January 2010 was received that without any draw of lots a plot was being offered to us," Bhushan said.
"We assumed that probably fewer persons might have applied for the plots than the number of plots planned by the NOIDA authority and therefore all applicants might have been offered plots. This belief was due to the fact that the financial terms were very stringent particularly as in addition to the premium of 3 and a half crores, there was to be an annual rent of more than 9 lacs per year. If there has been any arbitrariness in the allotment of the plots, the allotments should be cancelled and we would certainly not challenge the cancellation," he said.
"It is also to be noted that both myself and my son Jayant Bhushan have been fighting cases against Mayawati in courts and the question of obtaining favours from her or her government does not arise at all. Jayant was fighting the case against the Mayawati government on the Mayawati statues along the Noida bird sanctuary. I, and Prashant Bhushan have been regularly appearing in PILs against Mayawati in the Taj corridor case even as recently as last week. These cases are still continuing," he added.
Shanti Bhushan, who is the co-chairman of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee, had mentioned the 20 thousand square metre plots when he declared his assets last week. The cost of each farmhouse plot is Rs 3.5 crore and allottees had to pay just 10 per cent (Rs 35 lakh) at the time of allotment and the rest in 16 instalments.
The disclosure has also raised questions of conflict of interest as Jayant Bhushan has appeared against Mayawati in the Noida statue park case.
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