SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, April 13: During his tenure as deputy commissioner of Ranchi, Chhavi Ranjan often confronted the then Divisional Commissioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni.
Kulkarni in several cases of land registration had raised objections, pointing out the correct legal position, but Chhavi Ranjan is said to have ignored all these objections, apparently to please his political masters.
The ED raids which are going on at 22 locations in Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal linked to Ranjan are said to investigate primarily the registration of various land chunks in Ranchi through dubious means, particularly manufacturing fake land records.
According to sources, Kulkarni had caught him on the wrong foot first on the fraudulent transfer of 4.55 acres of land in Ranchi currently under possession of Indian Army.
He had ordered an inquiry in the wake of a complaint lodged by national general secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Anusuchit Jati Mahasabha, Upendra Kumar in November 2021. Kolkata -based Dilip Ghosh is the director of Jagatbandhu Tea Estate Private Limited and he is learnt to have a close connection in the power portal of Jharkhand.
The inquiry conducted by the Deputy Director (Welfare) said that a fake document (registration number 4369/19932) of the ownership of the said land was created in favour of the seller Pradeep Bagchi. In that fake document, the year 1932 has been mentioned. Pradeep Bagchi claimed that his father had purchased the said land from raiyats in 1932 and the registry was held at Calcutta land registry office. The copy of that ‘fake’ document was also said to had been interpolated in the land records of the Kolkata registry office.
But despite that the land remained under possession of the Indian Army. It is evident from the fact that when Jayant Karnad sold out land to 13 different people in 2019. The circle officer of Bargain block refused to execute transfer of the ownership of the land to the purchaser on the ground that said land was under occupation of the Indian Army not the seller even if he is owner.
Notably, the ED probe later had also exposed how Chhavi Ranjan put pressure on the revenue officers to register 4.55- acre of Indian Army land in Ranchi with fake documents.
It was detected after the ED had carried out raids against Kolkata -based businessman Amit Agrawal, his associate Vishnu Agrawal.
Again, Kulkarni had found Chhavi Ranjan of having settled 7.16-acre prime land on basis of fake documents.
He had punched a hole in the order passed by Ranchi DC Chhavi Ranjan in a land-related case involving family members of Narayan Sahu, a noted athlete of the state who passed a few months ago, and Binod Kumar Singh, a resident of Shilagain under Chanho police station area.
Ranjan had passed the order after the circle officer of Hehal rejected an application of Singh for mutation of 7.16-acre land in Hehal circle. The deputy collector (land and revenue) had also rejected the revision petition filed before him, challenging the order of the circle officer in 2016.
Kulkarni sent his report to the chief secretary and the land and revenue department mentioning that DC Ranjan, a 2011 batch IAS officer, in January this year ordered to open Jamabandi (settlement) of 7.16-acre land in Hehal circle in favour of Singh on the basis of a fake ‘Panchnama (mutually written agreement between the contending parties)’, and the minutes of Gram Sabha.
Kulkarni observed that the ‘panchnama’ was generated two years after the circle officer rejected the application for mutation. He observed that it is not clear in the order who ordered to prepare ‘panchnama’ after the circle officer rejected the application for mutation and how come Gram Sabha is active in the urban area.
The commissioner said though during revision it is wrong to present a new fact, the deputy commissioner not only entertained a new fact coming from a fake document but also passed the order on that basis as if he has to do favour to someone.
The report suggests that the DC Ranjan by doing so paved the path for the sale of the land in March this year to two residents of Jamshedpur, Ravi Kumar Bhatia and Shyam Singh, for Rs 15.10 crore, which is worth Rs 29.88 crore according to government rate.
The report suggests that when the matter was being heard by Ranjan’s predecessor Rai Mahimapat Ray, a 2011 batch IAS officer, in July 2019 he had mentioned in the order sheet that opposite parties have also filed an FIR against Binod Kumar Singh for generating a fake deed and attempting to grab land.
The report suggests that DC Ranjan not only paved the path of sale of land at less cost with the help of fake ‘Panchnama’ but also helped the purchaser construct a boundary wall in full administrative protection.
Kulkarni in his report also said during the probe in the matter DC did not extend proper help and did not reply to the queries put before him.
Notably, Ranjan, born in Jamshedpur and got an opportunity to serve his home state has been in controversy for most of his tenure of 12 years.
He is facing investigation for allegedly cutting six forest trees in 2015 at his official residence when he was DC of Koderma. An FIR 18/2015 was lodged at Markaccho police station and the case was transferred to the Vigilance Bureau.
Despite this taint in his career, he was transferred to Ranchi as deputy commissioner by the Hemant Soren Government. He first landed in controversy for leasing out stone mines in the name of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Significantly, the Jharkhand High Court had strongly objected to his affidavit filed in a PIL, involving leasing out stone mines to Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
“What a deponent you have selected to swear on behalf of the state who is charge-sheeted in a criminal case under section 13 (1) (D) of the Prevention of the Corruption Act and whose passport was confiscated,” the then Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan had said.
The Chief Justice said that Chhavi Ranjan may be competent for the state but not for the court. “You can make him the secretary; you make him the secretary of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. You can do it all. But how can an accused file the affidavit on behalf of the state?” the Chief Justice said.
Meanwhile, BJP legislature party leader Babulal Marandi said that the ED action against IAS officers in recent past in Jharkhand, first against Pooja Singhal and now 2011 batch officer Chhavi Ranjan would expose how they trashed the rules to create wealth for themselves and their political masters.
Marandi said that Birendra Sahu, whose house is also being searched in Ranchi regarding Rs 10,000 crore land scam. He accused Sahu of extortion and embezzlement for Chhavi Ranjan and some other officers as well. He also wanted the ED to investigate the Sahibganj scam connection of Sahu.
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