Hotel demolition: Only on paper

NEW DELHI: In a sensational case of fake demolition by MCD, a ‘five-star’ hotel in the capital was completely pulled down by corporation bulldozers — but only on paper. The hotel owner even paid the demolition fee. But as a CBI team discovered on Friday, the hotel not only stands, it has been carrying out business as usual.

CBI sleuths swooped down on Uppal’s Orchid Hotel located off NH-8 near Samalka, some 4 km from IGI Airport, as well as the office and home of its owner as part of raids aimed at exposing the nexus between builders, MCD officials and politicians.

‘‘B K Uppal, the owner of Uppal’s Orchid, is one of the accused named in five cases registered yesterday,’’ a CBI official said. ‘‘The hotel had been demolished on paper only, though Uppal had even submitted the demolition fees. The hotel is not only standing, it is fully functional,’’ he added.

Uppal’s Orchid was found to have been built in complete violation of land use provisions and was therefore slated to be demolished.

Incidentally, the website of this ‘‘Ecotel hotel’’ claims it won the green globe environment excellence award and the green tech environment excellence award in 2003, along with a most innovative marketing campaign award in the same year. The website also boasts that it is ‘‘Asia’s first certified eco-friendly five-star hotel’’.

Uppal’s residence and corporate office, both located in Panchsheel Park, were also raided and CBI sleuths have seized several documents. According to them, Uppal had allegedly connived with certain MCD officials to create fake documents on the demolition. The fact that the hotel had not been demolished should also have been checked by MCD, they added.

Uppal could not be contacted for comment. Hotel officials refused to divulge his residence or mobile number. The corporate office was closed.