CPM digs out 1,000-bigha ‘benami’ deal,wants CBI probe

The land,the market value of which could be Rs 800 crore,has allegedly been sold on General Power of Attorney (GPAs) in the name of a single individual,who the party alleged was actually a “front” man of corporate house based outside the state.

Addressing the media,CPM state secretariat member Tikender Singh Panwar said that though most of the land have been sold between March 2007 and July 2008,the deals were being registered now. “There are around 100 GPAs executed in the name of one person,who hails from Solan and possess a agriculture certificate,which was also questionable,” said Panwar.

Flanked by party leader Sanjay Chauhan,Panwar expressed his surprised over how the state government remained a silent spectator to the deal,which was a blatant violation of the land laws and HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act.

While showing documents of certain payments made through HDFC Bank,Panwar said the actual payment for the land was made at Rs 4.5 lakh per bigha and a corporate house in Punjab was behind the deal. But now,when the farmers — who had earlier sold the land — have started asking for higher prices,the benami transaction had come to light.

Panwar said CPM will not file any complaint before newly set-up judicial commission,which was a “meaningless exercise and a heavy burden on the state exchequer”. “We are also not going to supply the papers to the state Vigilance agency,as everyone knows that ruling party members are also active in illegal land deals. Thus,moving high court is the only option to get justice,” he added.