New Delhi: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena has given his approval to an investigation against three revenue department officials by the anti-corruption branch of Delhi govt in an alleged land scam of 2019.
The three officials — a sub-registrar, a tehsildar and a kanungo — allegedly changed the records of a piece of land owned by the Delhi Development Authority and issued a no-objection certificate to a private individual to sell it.
The LG has also asked the vigilance department to submit a case against the then sub-divisional magistrate of Hauz Khas in the South district, who was also allegedly involved in the case, in a week. The three officials were posted in the Hauz Khas office of the South district.
According to officials, DDA acquired a piece of land bearing Khasra number 351 in 1965. In 2019, a person filed an application with the SDM-Hauz Khas, seeking demarcation of Khasra number 351. After demarcation of the land measuring 44 bighas and 19 biswa (nearly 45,360 square yards), a plot measuring 1 bigha and 5 biswa (approximately 1,260 square yards) was earmarked as private, they said.
“During a court case in the matter, DDA took a contrary stance and said that there was illegal construction on its land, which was demolished. DDA took possession of the land.
Despite revenue records clearly indicating that the land belonged to DDA, officials from the revenue department’s South district allegedly issued an NOC to the individual. Subsequently, the then sub-registrar went on to register the sale deed of the acquired land, leading to wrongful revenue loss to govt due to an alleged act of fraud,” a Raj Niwas official said.
Since there was an inordinate delay in the processing of these cases by the vigilance department, the LG has also issued instructions to the department to strictly adhere to the timelines stipulated in the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A Raj Niwas official said the LG took a strong stance against corruption and recommended strict action against delinquent officials from various govt departments, including excise, revenue, GST, PWD, health, education, and others.
