As govt grapples to find plot for infrastructure, lands worth Rs 200 cr illegally gobbled up in Asola Village

According to sources, the connivance of revenue officers in District Magistrate (DM) office and a local Councillor was behind the land scam amounting to Rs 200 crore or more. Following the allegations, the Delhi government has announced a detailed inquiry asking the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the area to file the report.  

As per the report, brazenness of land mafia and musclemen has resulted in loss of huge chunks of Gram Sabha lands that have gone to private players at high prices. The land sharks, in association with revenue staff, have managed to transfer ownership of lands in their names and have then sold it off to others. When this came to light, their names were deleted and an inquiry was ordered.

“Rampant encroachment and land grabbing on notified and other types of lands can easily be seen in various parts of the village that reveals the audacious acts of heavyweights who are not just occupying the lands but are selling them off to others by producing fake documents. Though the villagers are aware about their nefarious trade but they can not do much as the mafias enjoy good support of the area’s Councillor, his siblings and their close associates,” said a villager requesting anonymity. 

Sources in the village claimed that a total of 25.10 bigha land (khasra no-1354) belongs to Gram Sabha of the village but it was reportedly transferred to one Mahesh. It was alleged that land ownership was given to Mahesh after changing the village’s land record. 

He reportedly transferred the land ownership to one Raman Mehra of Amritsar. When the nexus of the mafia and revenue staff was unearthed, a revenue staff member, identified as Indrajeet, was suspended overnight and the SDM was asked to conduct a detailed probe.

A similar fraud was also unearthed in khasra no-1082 as sources claimed that ownership of nearly 0.11 bigha land was changed from Gram Sabha to a land mafia and was sold off to another person later. 

Forgery has taken place in majority of plots in and around the Asola village. Local investigation has suspected forgery in khasra no-447, 1437, 1435, 1334, 1348, 1632, 1354, 1749, 1744 & 1754. 

“We want a detailed investigation in this matter and action against the area Councillor, his associates and revenue department officials involved in this,” said a member of the investigating team who resides there.