HC for CBI probe in B’shahr land scam

Allahabad: The Allahabad high court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct an enquiry in the matter of misappropriation of public fund in Bulandshahr land acquisition scam.
In February 1991, a notification was issued for acquisition of about 969 acre land by UPSIDC for industrial development. The Special Land Development Officer had determined Rs 2,87,14,996 as compensation. On reference court increased the amount to Rs 7,13,37,504.
However, certain farmers did not hand over their possession. Subsequently, UPSIDC entered into an agreement with Tehri Hydro Development Corporation in 2013 to transfer land and in this process authorities increased compensation to Rs 3,87,17,71,833 — enhancement of Rs 380 crores under ex gratia compensation though farmers had already been paid.
Directing the CBI to investigate the matter, a division bench comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery observed, “In the present case, all the facts are glaring. The top officials on their own had decided to pay ex gratia compensation, which was known to them to be illegal. In this case, state police would not be able to investigate fairly and we are of the considered view that in order to unearth truth, present matter should be referred to CBI for investigation”.
The court was hearing the writ petitions filed by farmer Kamal Singh and others. The court directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry and register an FIR to unearth the scam and also submit the status report of investigation to this court in sealed cover after three months. The court fixed May 11, 2020 as the next date for hearing.