NH-74 land scam: PCS officer surrenders

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 9

PCS officer Tirath Pal, who was suspended for his alleged role in the NH-74 land compensation scam, on Monday surrendered before the SIT. Soon after his surrender, the police took him to an unknown destination for further questioning. The officer who had gone in hiding is likely to be produced before the Nainital High Court.

During the investigation, the SIT had managed to recover documents with the signatures of Tirath Pal done in back date. It is alleged that while SDM Bajpur, Tirath Pal had tinkered with the land records.

After the scam came to light in 2017, SIT was constituted to carry on the investigation into the scam. The SIT has so far questioned around 345 farmers. A total of 18 accused have been sent to jail, including four PCS officers. According to the chargesheet, during the land acquisition process, land use of agriculture land was changed to commercial land to claim compensation worth several crores. A 3,000-page chargesheet highlighting financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 211 crore between 2011 and 2016 has been submitted in the court.

The SIT on Sunday had arrested Berinag Naib Tehsildar (incharge) Raghubeer Singh, an accused from Rudrapur district. After questioning, he was also produced in the court. He was earlier posted in Gadarpur, one of the key places where the scam originated. He is accused of changing the land records on a back date.