The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at several locations connected to senior Uttarakhand Provincial Civil Services (PCS) officer Dinesh Pratap Singh in connection with the infamous NH-74 land acquisition scam. Singh, currently serving as the Executive Director of Doiwala Sugar Mill in Dehradun, is accused of playing a central role in one of the state’s largest compensation scams during his earlier tenure as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).
The scam, which came to light in 2017, involved irregularities in land acquisition for widening National Highway 74. Officials allegedly manipulated land classifications and issued backdated orders to falsely convert agricultural land into non-agricultural, inflating compensation rates and siphoning off public funds.
ED Teams Sweep Across States
According to officials, the ED conducted simultaneous raids at Singh’s residential and office premises in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. During the searches, several important financial documents, property records, and electronic evidence were seized.
These raids are part of the ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Officials stated that the seized records would help trace the flow of illegal money and identify other beneficiaries involved in the scam.
₹162 Crores Lost on Paper Promises
Investigations have revealed that Singh and other officials allegedly colluded with private individuals, landowners, and middlemen to illegally reclassify agricultural land as non-agricultural through backdated orders. This malpractice allowed them to claim inflated compensation rates.
The scam caused a reported ₹162.5 crore loss to the government exchequer. ED sources said Singh had previously been named in a chargesheet filed in 2024, and several of his properties were provisionally attached. Wednesday’s raids mark a significant escalation in efforts to hold those involved accountable.
The Road Ahead: Arrests, Assets, and Answers
The ED is now examining financial trails to uncover the final recipients of the scam proceeds and whether the illegally acquired funds were routed into other ventures, properties, or shell firms. More raids and questioning of other officials linked to the case are expected in the coming days.
Authorities have remained tight-lipped about Singh’s current status following the raids. The officer has yet to make a public statement, but legal experts believe that if sufficient evidence is gathered, prosecution under money-laundering laws could lead to severe penalties, including property confiscation and imprisonment.