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Air force wives' association faces inquiry

The defence ministry has decided to run the elite Santushti Shopping Plaza in New Delhi on a commercial basis and is looking into allegations of financial irregularities against the Air Force Wives Welfare Association which was running the complex till recently, the Delhi high court was told today.

The court later directed the unsealing of the shop of Mehra Sons, owners of Mehra Jewellers.

Defence Secretary Ajit Kumar's affidavit, submitted before a division bench of acting Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice K S Gupta, said the decision to allow the complex to be run by the director-general of defence estates, who has taken it over from the AFWWA, was taken after discussions at various levels.

Santushti is situated close to the prime minister's residence on Race Course Road and opposite two luxury hotels.

The affidavit, filed yesterday in pursuance of the court's September 10 order, further said the modalities for providing funds to the AFWWA for sustaining its welfare activities were being finalised.

Petitioner Dr B L Wadehra challenged the ministry's decision, saying it was done to continue the AFFWA's irregularities in a legal manner. He said the continuance of the complex was contrary to the public interest and various earlier decisions.

The bench accepted Dr Wadehra's plea for time to file an affidavit challenging the ministry's decision and directed him to do so within four weeks. The bench also told the ministry to file its reply to Wadehra's affidavit within four weeks thereafter and adjourned the case to January 9.

On September 10, the judges had directed the central government to decide at least tentatively how it proposed to use the complex and the land on which it has been built after the DGDE's takeover. The government was also directed to find a way to ensure funds for the AFWWA's welfare activities.

On the plea of Navin Mehra, owner of Mehra Jewellers, for reopening his shop, the judges said, "Prima facie, the understanding of the ministry of the order of February 4 this year was not correct. For the present, prima facie, we see no reason why shop number 40 should not be dealt along with the other shops in the complex."

"In these circumstances, as an interim measure, we direct that shop no. 40 be reopened forthwith," they said.

The court's February 4 order had restrained the creation of any third-party interest in the complex.

Anand Mohan, Mehra's counsel, submitted that his client had no intention of creating a third-party interest in the complex and had conveyed this through a letter to the defence ministry as well.

Dr Wadehra had filed the petition seeking an inquiry into the affairs of the AFWWA in running the elite complex, which, according to him, also constitutes a threat to national security.

UNI

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