RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Aug.25: South Chotanagpur Commissioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni punched a hole in the order passed by Ranchi DC Chhavi Ranjan in a land-related case involving family members of Nayaran 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.
The DC 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, a 1995 batch IAS officer, punched the hole sending his report to the chief secretary and the land and revenue department mentioning that DC Ranjan, a 2010 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.
The report suggests that following the order of the DC in January, land receipt dated back before Independence was issued in the name of Singh without fixation of rent a day before registration and mutation of the land.
The matter had reached before the court of DC Ranjan after application for mutation of land by Binod Singh was rejected by the circle officer and the deputy collector saying Singh does not have any document to claim his possession and the sale deed produced by him is suspicious.
Kulkarni in his report said during the probe in the matter DC did not extend proper help and did not reply to the queries put before him.