HC orders CBI probe into illegal construction of 108-feet Hanuman idol in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe as to how the 108-foot Hanuman idol in Delhi's Karol Bagh was constructed by encroaching on public land.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to go after the civic officials under whose tenure the structure came up.

"It`s high time all public official are held accountable. It is an abuse of official position," said the court while directing DDA, North MCD, Land and Development Office, Public Works Department and Mandir Marg Police Station to join the investigation and cooperate with CBI.

It said that the trustees running the temple should not be permitted to enjoy the benefit of money derived from the public land and directed the UCO Bank branch at Model Basti area here to freeze the account of the trust and the fixed deposits. The court said the bank should only allow deposits and not withdrawals from the account.

The bench said as per the police, the monthly income of the temple from offerings is Rs four lakh but the actual figures may be more than what they were able to ascertain.

The court also asked the Delhi Police to handover to the CBI the details and documents of the inquiry conducted so far.

Earlier, the HC had suggested to the local authorities to consider 'airlifting' of the 108-foot Hanuman statue in central Delhi to remove the encroachments around it.

The HC bench had given the suggestion while hearing a PIL by an NGO seeking removal of unauthorised constructions and encroachments in the Karol Bagh area in the city.

Earlier, the High Court was informed that while one paw of the Hanuman idol fell on the pavement, the rest of the structure was primarily located on land belonging to DDA.

The High Court had called for full particulars of the persons who are responsible for erection of the idol as well as the unauthorised buildings and constructions, including particulars of the persons who have funded it and are in control of these encroachments.

The court was hearing a bunch of petitions relating to illegal constructions and encroachments in Karol Bagh area of Delhi.

The court was earlier informed that the idol was built in 2002 and the temple along with it was run by a trust.

A committee appointed by the High Court had revealed large scale trespass on public land, including for construction of the Hanuman idol and unauthorised construction of multiple small and big buildings.