CBI to probe farmhouse land scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been asked to probe a land scam on the outskirts of Delhi in which the role of senior defence officials had come under the scanner.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been asked to probe a land scam on the outskirts of Delhi in which the role of senior defence officials had come under the scanner.

HT Image

First reported by HT, the scam involves 300 acres of controversy-ridden land bought by the Air Force Naval Housing Board (AFNHB) for a dwelling project straddling Noida and Faridabad.

The probe follows investigations carried out by the defence ministry in November into allegations of collusion between a private developer and senior officials.

More than 220 allottees forked out Rs 6.8 lakh each for one-acre farms when the project was launched in 1997.

However, their dreams turned sour after they realised that the property fell in a flood-prone zone, its ownership was questionable and it was embroiled in litigation.

The AFNHB broke off all deals with the developer in 2003. The defence ministry probe looked into eight points of irregularities pointed out by the allottees after the project ran into legal hurdles.

Those who had invested in the project have alleged that they are paying the price as the senior officers did not follow due diligence when the land was bought.

"Either senior officers acted foolishly or colluded with the developer to acquire the land dubiously," said an allottee.

The air force had conducted an inquiry into the project four years back but its findings were not revealed.