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An enormous land fraud, valuing around INR 450 crore, has come to light in Panipat, revealing corruption within the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and local revenue officials. The illegitimate activity involved a plot of commercial land, sprawling 7,200 square feet near the GT Road, that was reportedly seized by the land mafia.
The scam's revelation was prompted by Joginder Swami, a Panipat resident from Sector 6. Swami lodged a detailed complaint to the HSVP about the fraudulent practices concerning the organization's land. Following this, the HSVP administration addressed the issue to the chief vigilance officer, urging them to initiate criminal actions against the implicated officials and regain control of the captured property.
The land in question, over an acre in size and located in the Taraf Ansar village, was officially procured by the land acquisition collector back in 1992. Although a majority of the land was registered under the HSVP, formerly known as the Haryana Urban Development Authority, the area remained vacant. The complainant alleges that as time passed, the land became a hub for private parties and local revenue officials to conduct illicit land transactions.
Interestingly, government records reflect the land as HSVP property. But, aside from a small segment, the entirety of the land was not adequately registered. This issue came into view when the HSVP discovered the land's mutation was not entirely in their favour, with some parts appearing under individual names.
HSVP investigators have uncovered four sale deeds of the same land, spanning from 2002 to 2020, registered under at least six different private entities. The remaining documents, which could unveil the full extent of the scam, have been attached to the complaint initiated by the HSVP administration. One HSVP official hinted that influential figures' involvement in the fraud is likely.
Regarding the revenue officials' role, sources with inside knowledge alleged that the land acquisition collector in Rohtak has been requesting land records from the Panipat tehsildar since 2018, but received no response.
Moreover, Panipat estate office workers have been accused of withholding vital information and providing inaccurate statements about the land's status across various government platforms. "With the recent revelation, the HSVP is obligated to reclaim possession and proceed with further action," said an HSVP official.
In conclusion, the alarming corruption case, putting INR 450 crore at stake, is a wake-up call for stricter regulatory checks within the real estate sector. This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced transparency in property transactions to prevent such fraudulent activities in the future. It also calls for robust internal checks within government organizations to keep such misconduct in check.
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