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News India Live, Digital Desk: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has tightened its grip completely in the much-discussed Ring Road land acquisition scam of Jharkhand. On Monday, the ACB filed a charge sheet in the court against a total of 17 named accused, including former JPSC examination controller Vishal Kumar and the then District Land Acquisition Officer Udaykant Pathak, who were arrested in this case. There is a serious allegation against all of them of misusing their government position and colluding with land mafia and middlemen to embezzle government compensation worth crores of rupees.
Distribution of compensation on fake papers: snatching away the rights of the poor and tribals
The investigation has revealed a shocking fact that huge fraud was done in the matter of land acquired for the ring road to be built from Balliapur Bypass to Dhansar Chowk. The then CO Vishal Kumar and officials of the Land Acquisition Department ignored the rules and paid compensation on the basis of fake documents (deeds). Without informing the real ryots (land owners), government money was withdrawn by showing the land in someone else’s name on paper. In this game, the middlemen bought the land of Dalits and tribals at throwaway prices and then met the officials and collected huge compensation.
ACB raid and action taken so far
This scam first came to light in 2015, the responsibility of investigating which was handed over to ACB in 2016. After a long investigation, the ACB arrested these accused on January 9 this year by raiding several places including Ranchi, Bokaro and Deoghar. Vishal Kumar, currently posted as the Examination Controller of JPSC, was the CO of Dhanbad at that time. In February, the court had rejected the bail applications of many accused including Vishal Kumar, after which now their problems have increased further with the filing of the charge sheet.
Names of these ‘elders’ included in the charge sheet
The chargesheet submitted by the ACB in the court mainly includes the names of the following officials and influential people:
Vishal Kumar: The then Dhanbad CO (presently JPSC Examination Controller).
Udaykant Pathak: The then District Land Acquisition Officer.
Mithilesh Kumar: The then Kanungo.
Ramkripal Goswami: PACS Chairman.
Kali Prasad Singh: Land mafia/middleman. Apart from these, evidence has also been presented against Amin and other revenue employees, who had forwarded files in the name of fake ryots without any physical verification or setting up camps.
The land is still with the real ryots, the brokers have eaten up the money.
ACB’s investigation has also revealed that the lands for which compensation was given on paper are still occupied by the old and original owners. The accused simply prepared fake deeds on paper and in connivance withdrew money from the government treasury. The departmental officials had shared the compensation information with the brokers, who had already misled the ryots. The government is now preparing to recover compensation amount from all these culprits and take strict legal action against them.