New Delhi: The alleged mastermind of the multi-crore land scam in the capital, Ashok Malhotra, was today arrested by CBI after he surfaced in the studio of a private news channel.

Malhotra, who had been evading CBI summons for the past few days, was arrested as he came out of the Zee News studio in Noida. CBI officials were waiting outside the studio to arrest him. Appearing on the channel, Malhotra had offered to surrender on the condition that the central investigative agency interrogate him in the presence of a legal team. Refuting allegations of any association with politicians and any involvement in the land scam, the city-based contractor said he had gone underground "fearing for his life". "I have been framed," he claimed.