Police file charge sheet in NDMC law officer murder case

Delhi Police today filed in a court here a charge sheet against an owner of a city four-star hotel and six others arrested in connection with the case of murder of NDMC law officer M M Khan.
Khan, 57, was a lawyer and an assistant legal advisor with New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
Ramesh Kakkar, owner of 'The Connaught' hotel, Amir Alvi, Anwar Omais, Saleem Khan, Ram Phool, Bilal and Israil, who were arrested on May 18 for allegedly killing the lawyer on May 16, have been charge sheeted by Delhi Police before a magisterial court.
According to the police, the civic body had last year sealed the property leased by NDMC, on which 'The Connaught' was functioning, after the hotel authorities failed to abide by the eviction order following expiry of the lease.

The police have claimed that apprehending an unfavourable order, which would have resulted in huge monetary loss and eviction from the property, Kakkar had hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Khan, who was made the Estate Officer by the high court and was to pass an order in the lease matter on May 17.
Khan's family had claimed that there was tremendous pressure on him from his seniors to waive the penalty of around Rs 140 crore imposed on the hotel for violation of the licence term, a matter which is still being probed by the police.

The police have claimed that Kakkar (48) had contacted Ram Phool (46) and Israil (31), both of whom were bouncers at Kakkar's nightclub in Greater Kailash area, which was closed down around five years ago.

They alleged that other arrested accused were roped in the conspiracy to eliminate Khan.
During the investigation, it emerged that the property on which The Connaught was functioning was taken on lease for setting up a 2-star youth hostel, but the plan was changed and a hotel came up instead, attracting action from the civic body, the police have said.