AAP MLA Manoj Kumar AAP MLA Manoj Kumar

AAP MLA Manoj Kumar, who was arrested in connection with a case of alleged cheating and land grabbing, was today remanded to two-day police custody by a Delhi court.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler sent Kumar, MLA from Kondli in east Delhi, to police custody till July 11 after investigating agency said some recoveries were to be made from him.

The police sought seven days custody of Kumar saying he has to be interrogated and several recoveries, including documents, money and stamps, have to be made from him.

A case under Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the Kondli MLA at New Ashok Nagar police station of East Delhi in May.

“This is an old matter related to land fraud. Questioning of Kumar is on as of now,” Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said this afternoon.

The case of cheating was registered against Kumar following allegations that he duped his business partner of Rs 6 lakh. The complaint, Vinod Kumar, had alleged that Manoj used to work as a property dealer before venturing into politics.

Vinod claimed that he was Manoj’s business partner and had given Rs six lakh to him to purchase a plot in November 2012 but he did not repay the amount.

“The complainant has alleged that Manoj Kumar produced fake proprietorship documents of a plot in Kondli area of East Delhi and accepted around Rs 6 lakh from one Vijay Kumar. He made the deal on the plot by showing it as his own, which now is being said to be owned by one ML Verma,” police sources added.

“The buyer was supposed to take possession of the land upon full payment of Rs 21 lakh. However, Manoj allegedly kept on postponing the finalization of the deal citing that his busy schedule due to assembly elections and then the recently concluded general elections,” police sources said.

Congress was quick to react saying the case emphasizes the importance of Lokayukta in Delhi. “We have been emphasizing the importance of Lokayukta in Delhi. These cases would have come out earlier. It’s embarrassing for the party, said Congress leader Ajay Maken.

The Delhi BJP has demanded immediate action against two more MLAs, Akhileshpati Tripathi and Sanjeev Jha for allegedly leading an “attack” on the Burari police station. Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay said, “The arrest of MLA Manoj Kumar is a right step taken after an undue delay. Since it came to power, AAP MLAs have created an atmosphere of anarchy and the delay in arresting the first MLAs involved in such acts has given others confidence to do whatever wish.”

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Delhi News, download Indian Express App.