CBI probes into Gurgaon land acquisition case, files FIR

New Delhi: The CBI started a probe on Thursday into the alleged irregularity in the purchase of 400 acres land from Gurgaon farmers during 2004-2007 at throw away prices causing them a loss of over Rs 1,500 crore.

On the request of the Haryana government and directions of the central government, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against unknown public servants of the Haryana government and some private people.

CBI sources said that the unknown accused have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as under charges of cheating, forgery, using a forged document as genuine and criminal conspiracy.

A CBI statement said that the agency took over the investigation from Manesar police station in Gurgaon that had already registered a first information report (FIR) against some public servants in Haryana and some private people.

"It is alleged that some private builders in conspiracy with Haryana government officials had purchased around 400 acres of land from the farmers of villages in Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula in Gurgaon at throw away prices between August 27, 2004 and August 24, 2007," said a CBI official, adding that the farmers and land owners were threatened with acquisition of their land by the government if they did not sell.

According to the official, the Haryana government had initially issued a notification under the land acquisition act for land measuring about 912 acres for setting up an industrial model township at villages in Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula.

"After that, all the land had allegedly been grabbed from the land owners and farmers by the private builders under the threat of acquisition at meagre rates," the official said.

"An order was also passed by the director of industries on August 24, 2007 releasing the land from the acquisition process but the land was released in violation of the government policy in favour of the builders, their companies and agents, instead of the original land owners," the official said.

The land, whose market value at that time was above Rs 4 crore per acre, totaling to about Rs 1,600 crore, was allegedly purchased by the private builders from the land owners at only about Rs 100 crore.

"The farmers and land owners had to sustain a loss of Rs 1,500 crores," the official said.

(IANS)