Pune land scam: CBI to break open Gen Thamburaj’s lockers

A day after filing a case and conducting searches at the residence of retired Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj in connection with an alleged land scam in Pune Cantonment, the Central Bureau of Investigation is preparing to crack open the bank lockers of the former Army general and his alleged abettors today.

At the same time, the CBI has approached the Army's additional director-general, discipline and vigilance, seeking more inputs in the case.

Besides Gen Thamburaj, the house of former defence estates officer for Pune circle S R Nayyar and the office of Kalpataru Builders were also searched. The CBI is likely to open Nayyar's locker as well.

The investigating agency is also preparing questions for the accused on the basis of its investigation and the internal enquiry conducted by the Army. A copy of the inquiry report along with the relevant documents had been handed over to the CBI earlier.

A report cites CBI officials investigating the case as saying that all the accused seem to have covered their tracks well after the Army inquiry.

On Wednesday, the CBI scrutinised documents and computers seized from their homes and prepared to question the accused for their alleged misconduct in order to benefit Kalpataru, a Pune-based builder, who has benefited to the tune of Rs46 crore.