Govt reclaims benami land in Kasauli

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, February 15

In a landmark decision, which will deter benami transactions in Kasauli, the District Collector vested 44.5 bighas at Jhol village with the state government for violating Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, where luxury apartments were being constructed by a Delhi-based company.

The decision, which was taken yesterday, has brought to light the unholy nexus of non-Himachalis purchasing land in the name of local villagers for furthering their commercial objectives.

Deputy Commissioner Vinod Kumar said all benami transactions would face the heat for violating the revenue laws in the district and the case should act as a deterrent for the wrongdoers.

The case, which was initially investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) in 2013, was later referred to the DC for further action.

SIT probe had proved that land worth crores was bought in the name of Data Ram, a resident of Chatiyan village in Kasauli tehsil, and Deepak Virmani, who was a Delhi resident, but also an agriculturist of Himachal, by transferring crores in their account by several non-Himachalis in violation of the revenue laws.

First, 11 biswa land was bought at Sakhli village for Rs 6 lakh in November 2007 by Data Ram. A sum of Rs 4 lakh was transferred in his account by one Brijesh Virmani of Delhi to facilitate the sale. Several such deals were made subsequently. The probe had established that a sum of Rs 16 crore to Rs 17 crore was transferred in the bank account of Data Ram from 2006 to 2014 for buying 39.15 bighas, while 13.1-bigha land was bought in the name of his family members.

Several non-Himachalis transferred crores of rupees in an unregistered company, Mount and Pinance Company, which was specially created for the purpose. The company was run by Rohit Virmani, who is the son of Brijesh Virmani. A sum of Rs 2,24,48,000 was credited in Data Ram’s bank account from February 2009 to December 2013 to facilitate the construction of flats.

Another company by the name of Kasauli Hills Home was registered in Delhi, where Data Ram was shown to be a share-holder, while Brijesh Virmani and Ramesh Chand, both of whom were non-Himachalis, were its directors. The company was engaged in selling flats to prospective buyers and funds worth crores were deposited in its account.

The annual income tax returns of Data Ram as well as Deepak Virmani had no mention about these land transactions as inquired by SIT.

As many as eight flats were constructed on 1-07 bigha land shown to be bought by Data Ram, where two blocks of four-storeys were constructed and eight persons were shown to be its tenants. This was done to secure water and power connections in 2010.

Despite no building maps having been approved by the Town and Country Planning Department, they managed to secure power and water connections for these flats. The people shown as tenants had transferred lakhs in the bank account of Mount and Pinance Company.

While an in-depth probe had established that Delhi residents had invested crores in the project, several IAS as well as defence officials had bought flats, construction of which was in its initial stages.

Probe findings

• SIT probe had proved that land worth crores was bought in the name of Data Ram, a resident of Chatiyan village in Kasauli tehsil, and Deepak Virmani, who was a Delhi resident, but also an agriculturist of Himachal, by transferring crores in their account by several non-Himachalis in violation of the revenue laws.
• First, 11 biswa land was bought at Sakhli village for Rs 6 lakh in November 2007 by Data Ram. 
• A sum of Rs 4 lakh was transferred in his account by one Brijesh Virmani of Delhi to facilitate the sale. Several such deals were made subsequently. The probe had established that Rs 16 crore to Rs 17 crore was transferred in the bank account of Data Ram from 2006 to 2014 for buying 39.15 bighas, while 13.1 bigha land was bought in the name of his family members.