New Delhi: The Vigilance-2 Branch of the Haryana Chief Minister’s Office has recommended departmental action in the alleged stamp duty scam at the Sonipat tehsil office. Based on the findings of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SVACB), disciplinary proceedings have been ordered against a Junior Engineer (JE) and two former patwaris. The investigation alleges that stamp duty and registration charges were not collected during a land registration in 2015, resulting in a financial loss of several lakhs of rupees to the state exchequer.
According to official information, the Vigilance-2 Branch has recommended action against Krishna Kumar, Junior Engineer in the District Town Planner (DTP) office, former patwari Ramnivas, and former Revenue Department patwari Om Prakash. The Haryana Chief Secretary’s Office has issued directions to the Additional Chief Secretaries of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department and the Town and Country Planning Department to initiate appropriate departmental proceedings.
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The matter originated in 2020, when Sonipat-based advocate Mohit Khandelwal, a resident of Siddharth Colony, sought land records under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. During scrutiny of the documents, it was allegedly found that proper stamp duty had not been paid on certain land registrations related to Killa No. 26/7/1.
According to the investigation, Registration No. 6039, executed on September 3, 2015, was processed without collecting either the prescribed stamp duty or the registration fee. In contrast, other land registrations involving the same parcel had been processed after payment of the applicable charges. Investigators allege that this resulted in a substantial loss of revenue to the government.
The vigilance report also noted that nearly four years earlier, Registration No. 4744 for a 200-square-yard plot in the same locality had attracted approximately ₹25,000 in stamp duty. However, the 2015 registration was allegedly processed without following the applicable legal provisions. The complaint subsequently led to inquiries at multiple administrative levels.
Following the findings of the vigilance investigation, the Chief Minister’s Office accepted the recommendations of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau and ordered departmental proceedings against the concerned officials under the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 2016.
The investigation further found that Siddharth Colony had been regularised by the state government in 2004, after which the land was automatically classified as residential. Despite this, a 1,500-square-yard property was allegedly registered in 2015 as agricultural land, enabling the alleged wrongful grant of stamp duty benefits.
Under the applicable rules, stamp duty concessions are available only in limited circumstances, such as when a person’s land has been acquired by the government and the individual purchases agricultural land within the prescribed period. Investigators allege that these provisions were misused to extend benefits in a transaction involving residential property.
The concerned departments are now proceeding with disciplinary action while continuing to examine revenue records, land registration documents, and other official records. Authorities are also investigating whether any additional officials or private individuals were involved in the alleged irregularities. Further administrative and legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the ongoing departmental inquiry.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
