Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 31 named individuals and several unidentified persons in connection with an alleged ₹100 crore Gram Sabha land scam. The accused are alleged to have fraudulently secured the allotment, mutation and occupation of approximately 2.4 hectares of valuable government land by using forged lease documents. Following the registration of the case, authorities have launched a detailed examination of revenue records and land-related documents.
The case was registered at Sambhal Kotwali Police Station on the complaint of a revenue official. According to the complaint, official records relating to Gram Sabha land in Takhtgushain village, located along the Sambhal–Moradabad road, were allegedly manipulated to transfer government land into the names of private individuals. Preliminary findings indicate that the alleged irregularities may have caused substantial loss to public property.
The investigation has revealed that the land was allegedly mutated in 2008 on the basis of forged lease documents. Based on the findings so far, police have booked former Deputy Director of Consolidation Khem Singh Khadak, former Sambhal Municipal Council Executive Officer Raj Kumar Gupta, alleged leaseholder Saeedul Rahman Khan, his legal heirs, and several others. Police have stated that additional individuals may be brought under the investigation if further evidence emerges.
According to the FIR, forged documents were allegedly used during the allotment and mutation process of the government land. Investigators are examining how the purported lease documents were prepared, at what stage the revenue records were altered and who was involved in facilitating the alleged fraud. Authorities are scrutinising historical revenue records, mutation orders, lease files and other official documents to reconstruct the sequence of events.
The accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to cheating, forgery and other relevant offences, along with provisions of the law dealing with damage to public property. Investigating officials said forensic examination of documents, verification of revenue records and questioning of concerned officials and other persons will be carried out to determine the full extent of the alleged conspiracy.
The investigation is also focusing on how the land was subsequently used and whether any individuals or entities derived financial benefits from the alleged illegal occupation. Officials said that if evidence establishes the involvement of additional persons or organisations, appropriate legal action will be taken against them. Given the seriousness of the allegations, every document and stage of the revenue process is being examined in detail.
Experts in land administration note that Gram Sabha land constitutes public property and its allotment and use are governed by specific legal procedures. Any mutation or transfer based on forged documents or manipulated records can result in significant loss to the public exchequer while undermining the integrity of the land administration system.
The case remains under investigation, and the allegations made in the FIR are yet to be established through the legal process. The accused are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. The registration of an FIR does not amount to proof of guilt, and the final outcome will depend on the evidence presented and the findings of the competent court after trial.
