Palampur land scam: Vigilance begins probe, CM vows strict action

The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has initiated a probe into the Palampur land scam, which has left 20 families homeless and landless after their land was allegedly sold overnight. Officials have begun examining the disputed land records at the local tehsil office.

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Sources revealed that the Director General of Police is personally overseeing the investigation under the directive of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. CM Sukhu has reiterated a policy of zero tolerance for corruption and assured that those found guilty will not be spared. The Tribune was the first to expose the scam, prompting authorities to take swift action.

Amid the growing controversy, two more individuals have come forward claiming to be legal heirs of Rozna Saraf, whose land is at the centre of the scam. This brings the total number of claimants to eight, including six women who were earlier declared legal heirs. However, there is no verifiable information about Rozna Saraf’s death — neither the date nor place — and the authenticity of her death certificate, issued by the Palampur Municipal Corporation under orders from the Naib Tehsildar, is now under scrutiny.

Sanjay Kumar, one of the new claimants, has accused revenue officials of unlawfully excluding him from ownership and transferring 101 kanals of land to the six women, who later sold it to relatives of a property dealer. He alleged that the Naib Tehsildar failed to conduct proper verification before making the transfer and has filed a complaint with the Vigilance Bureau.

Meanwhile, the dispossessed families, who claim to have occupied the land since 1946, argue that they became rightful owners under the Himachal Pradesh Land Tenancy Reform Act of 1972. They allege their names were wrongfully removed from the records by the Naib Tehsildar, enabling the illegal transfer of land to the six women. These families now plan to file a petition in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, seeking the annulment of the land transfer and demanding accountability from the responsible officials.

The investigation continues as more details emerge, further intensifying the demand for justice in what is shaping up to be one of the region’s most serious land scams.