Sadhu Singh Dharamsot's role in 'fraudulent' sale of forestland under VB lens

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 29

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) is probing the role of former Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in connection with the multi-crore scam involving the “fraudulent sale” of 54 acres of reserved forestland, which was shown as non-forest land, to the Forest Department in Ropar district.

Private persons allegedly connived with forest officials to purchase the land at inflated rates for afforestation two years ago. The land that was already locked under Sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) was shown as non-forest and purchased at 10 times the actual rates.

The police had yesterday registered an FIR against three persons, while and the Forest Department chargesheeted four IFS officers in connection with fraudulent purchase of land by the Punjab Forest Corporation.

It is a matter of investigation whether or not the then minister Dharamsot and then Secretary, Forests, gave approval to purchase land at inflated rates.

Taking note of the case, former ACS (Forests) Seema Jain had directed the department to chargesheet erring forest officials and FIR against persons who sold the land to the forest corporation.

Another tender for the purchase of 600 acres by forest corporation in three villages of Sultanpur Lodhi was cancelled by then Forest Minister Sangat Singh Gilzian.

Sources say the Vigilance Bureau has already sought the record of the case. It is being seen whether or not the approval of rates for the purchase of land was given at the level of then Forest Minister Dharamsot and then Administrative Secretary of the department.

As per the procedure, the department floats tenders for the purchase of land. A purchase committee, comprising representatives of the PCCF, MD (Forest Corporation), and Departments of Finance and Revenue, scrutinise the bids. Subsequently, a site inspection committee finalises the land to be acquired before seeking approval of the government for its purchase.

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