NIT land scam: EoW begins probe, no notice to city survey officials

Nagpur: The economic offence wing (EoW) of police department has finally started investigation into alleged land scam related to Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT). EoW is yet to issue notice to officials of city survey office who are allegedly responsible for the irregularities.
On June 25, TOI had reported about NIT’s complaint to EoW alleging its two parcels of land costing around Rs74 crore were fraudulently mutated by five persons of a family in their names in nexus with officials of city survey office-II. The civic agency fought a four-year-long battle to register its name back on the sprawling properties located at mouza Nari in North Nagpur.
NIT had lodged the complaint on June 13. On June 29, TOI had reported about EoW not commencing the investigation.
PI Atul Kadam, who is leading the EoW team that has started the investigation now, said, “We have taken statement of NIT officials. Notice was served to non-applicant who appeared before us and submitted relevant documents.”
As per NIT’s complaint, the two land parcels were agriculture land, yet officials of city survey office mutated them in the name of five persons. As per norms, the office is not empowered to mutate agriculture land. That power vests with the collector’s office. Also, the city survey office neither issued notice nor held hearing before changing the name.
NIT also pointed out that names of the five persons were mutated in two khasras even as no additional land was vacant.
Kadam said, “First, we will have to note down statement of non-applicant and then conduct investigation from other angels,” he said.
The five persons in nexus with the city survey office also got mutation done on lands owned by private persons, as per NIT.