Unmasking the Land Scam: GLADA Launches Major Probe into Alleged Fraud in Ludhiana Villages

The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has launched a comprehensive and rigorous investigation into a colossal land fraud, implicating former officials, property dealers, and revenue department personnel. This multi-crore scam involves the alleged illegal sale of approximately 65 acres of land in Majara and Ballo villages, tracts originally acquired by GLADA for crucial urban development projects.

The audacious fraud has not only siphoned off public resources but also underscores a deep-seated conspiracy to exploit government assets.

This renewed probe comes as a critical step to unearth the intricate web of deceit that led to the illegal sale of prime land designated for public use. The land, situated in Ludhiana district, was reportedly acquired by GLADA but subsequently ended up in the hands of private entities through a series of fraudulent transactions, including the fabrication of documents and the manipulation of revenue records.

The chief administrator of GLADA has personally ordered a thorough investigation, signaling a serious commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The modus operandi of the alleged fraudsters was alarmingly sophisticated. It involved creating fake 'khasra' numbers (plot numbers) to falsely represent the acquired land as ancestral property, thereby facilitating its illegal sale and registration.

Forged mutations—changes in land ownership records—were allegedly carried out with the connivance of revenue department officials, paving the way for the illicit transfer of valuable land. This elaborate scheme allowed conspirators to register plots and execute property sales using fabricated documents, bypassing legal land ownership protocols and defrauding both GLADA and the state exchequer of significant sums.

The investigation focuses on two primary cases:

• Majara Village Land Fraud: Here, approximately 40 acres of land, previously acquired by GLADA, were allegedly sold illegally.

  Following a preliminary probe, an FIR was registered in 2017 against seven individuals. These included a former patwari (village revenue official) and several property dealers, along with land owners. The accusations detail a conspiracy to illegally mutate and sell land, with specific cases citing fraudulent sales involving individuals like Harwinder Singh and others who allegedly conspired with officials to transfer the land illegally.

• Ballo Village Land Fraud: A similar scandal unfolded in Ballo village, where around 25 acres of GLADA-acquired land were reportedly sold through fraudulent means.

  This case also saw an FIR registered in 2017 against 16 individuals, including a former patwari, property dealers, and land owners. The alleged scheme involved creating fake land records and registries, with individuals such as Gurmeet Singh and his associates accused of being central to the illicit transactions.

These two incidents alone highlight a massive financial loss running into crores of rupees for GLADA and the public exchequer.

The illegal sales not only deprived the authority of land meant for planned urban development but also created a complex legal quagmire for the new 'owners' who unknowingly purchased fraudulently transferred property. The current GLADA chief administrator has emphasized the need to meticulously examine all records, identify every individual involved—from the lowest-ranking official to the most prominent property dealer—and ensure that no stone is left unturned in recovering the public assets and punishing the guilty.

While FIRs were registered in 2017 based on initial findings, the renewed probe aims to delve deeper, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the entire conspiracy and holding all responsible parties accountable.

This move signals GLADA's unwavering resolve to combat corruption and restore faith in the system, promising a transparent and decisive conclusion to this intricate tale of land fraud.