Udaipur, December 27, 2024 - In the much-publicised scandal of the 272-plots scam case involving the Udaipur Nagar Nigam, a sixth suspect was arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) on December 25. The accused was detained on the suspicion of obtaining a lease deed for a plot in Hiran Magri by forging the Corporation's documents.

According to SOG ASP Swati Sharma, the Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) had submitted a report in 2022 regarding the case. The report said that the Corporation possessed Plot Number 708 in Hiran Magri Sector 3, which had been transferred to it from Urban Improvement Trust (UIT), now Udaipur Development Authority (UDA).

The accused had forged the plot documents, allotment letter, possession letter and office note and secured the issuance of the lease deed from the Corporation in the name of Bharat Kumar Bhatt, a resident of Baghpura.

The SOG will collect samples of the suspect's handwriting and forward them to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for verification. The detained person is being interrogated regarding the involvement of others. So far Rakesh Solanki, Deepak, Kishanlal, Rajendra Dhakad and Rajdeep Valmiki have been arrested in this case.

It may be recalled that UIT had transferred some land to the Municipal Corporation in 2012. Many of these were unoccupied and a significant number were corner plots. Due to neglect, illegal occupants took over these plots. Numerous fake documents were created for some plots which  were re-sold by brokers.

This issue was first raised by former Congress Councillor Ajay Porwal in 2022. Following an investigation, the Corporation canceled 48 leases. Additionally, the then-City MLA and current Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and current City MLA Tarachand Jain have also raised this matter, labelling it as a Rs 500-crore scam.