BS Bassi trying to stop FIR on brother, claims AAP

Stepping up the attack on Delhi police commissioner B.S. Bassi over a controversial property in Rohini, the AAP on Saturday alleged that the top cop not only “hid” details regarding the flat but is also stopping an FIR against his brother in this connection.

The party also sought to counter his “graveyard” remark, saying the Delhi police has a record of sending residents to the “graveyard” by referring to a case of an alleged custodial death.

AAP posed several questions to the police chief and said the matter was being probed by the state government.

AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj has alleged that Mr Bassi got a flat in Lucky Cooperative Housing Society by flouting rules and in collusion with officers of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies and the managing committee of the society.

“Is it mere coincidence that the then Registrar of Cooperative Societies, who was his next-door neighbour at Ashoka Road, bypassed all bylaws and provisions to illegally help Mr Bassi get enrolled in Lucky Cooperative Housing Society How did Mr Bassi know in advance about the vacancy of the said flat in the society even before it was informed by the RCS in 1989-90. Is it not connivance and a criminal conspiracy,” asked Mr Bharadwaj.

He questioned why Mr Bassi was given the property at the rate at which it was offered to the original allottee even though the law mandates 24 per cent equalisation charge per annum.

“The bylaws of Lucky Home Cooperative Society mandated that Mr Bassi should have informed it about procuring any other property, but he did not do so when he procured a 500 sq. m residential plot at Civil Service Officers Welfare Society in 1998. In such an event, his membership at Lucky Homes Cooperative Society would have stood cancelled.

“Isn’t this a serious violation of law or is the police the commissioner so ignorant about the law,” Mr Bharadwaj said. He added that Mr Bassi’s brother, Ravi, was obstructing the work of the Deputy Registrar of Societies and that he has also lodged a compliant in this regard. “Despite the fact that the deputy registrar has given a complaint against Ravi Bassi for obstructing their official work, there has been no FIR against him. Is the Delhi police commissioner above the law,” Mr Bharadwaj said.

Rejecting the allegations, Mr Bassi had said on Friday that the property in question was “purely legitimate and was lawfully acquired”.

The AAP government has indulged in “vicious propaganda”, he had charged while challenging anyone, including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, to a debate on this issue.

“I will have to get information and a reply will be given. Commissioner of police cannot work by hiding. (He) works standing on the streets. I have never cheated and shall never get scared of such allegations. Will take such cheats to the graveyard of cheats,” Mr Bassi told reporters on Saturday.