Former Panchkula collector booked for fraud

CHANDIGARH: Seven years after the release of double compensation, the Haryana state vigilance bureau has booked the then land acquisition collector and revenue officials and four outstees for fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 95.49 lakh as compensation of the land.
The accused are identified as Mahinder Singh Sangwan, the then LAC Panchkula of 2013, patwari (revenue clerk) Sammat Singh, Brahmpal Kanungo and four sons of deceased oustees identified as Gurdharshan Singh, Gurbachan Singh Nirmal Singh and Paramjeet Singh, sons of Hakam Singh, the landowner.
A case under sections 406,408 and 420 and 120B of IPC and various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at vigilance bureau’s police station at Panchkula. Case has been registered on the complaint of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Suresh Kumar, who had completed the probe on the directions of the state government.
According to information, LAC had acquired land for carving out Sector 10 in urban estate of Ambala city. Hakim Singh was among the outstees whose land was acquired by the government. In the due course of time, Hakam Singh had died and his widow Mukund Kaur had been challenging the compensation.
Acting on the directions of Punjab and Haryana high court, the district and sessions judge of Ambala had released an amount of Rs 72.61 lakh to her in two instalments.. All this happened in 2006.
Meanwhile, it is alleged that acting on the misleading interpretation by the revenue officials on the judgement of Punjab and Haryana high court, the revenue officials had released Rs 95.49 lakh in favour of sons of Mukund Kaur.
Bureau officials alleged that the revenue officials have done this by misusing their powers and for the consideration. Sources said investigations are in progress.