Vadodara/Ahmedabad: A major land scam linked to the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway project has come to light, with the Gujarat High Court making strong observations and terming the entire episode a “concerted fraud.” The court has cancelled the acquisition of ‘additional land’ for the project and ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter. The ruling raises serious questions over the land acquisition process, administrative transparency, and the use of public funds.
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Court Flags Alleged Collusion in Land Acquisition Process
The case was heard by a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D N Ray. In its order, the court noted clear indications of collusion between landowners and certain officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as well as the Collector’s office, allegedly aimed at siphoning off public money in a planned manner.
The controversy surfaced when private purchasers approached the court seeking disbursement of compensation for the ‘additional land’. On the other hand, NHAI itself challenged the process, alleging that the entire sequence of transactions reflected a coordinated fraud involving manipulation of land records, usage classification, and valuation.
Irregularities in Mapping, Land Conversion and Transactions
During the proceedings, the court flagged several irregularities in the documentation and transactions related to the land. These included flipped mapping of land parcels, unusually rapid conversion of agricultural land into non-agricultural (NA) category, and completion of land transactions within a matter of days. The court observed that such actions could not be part of routine administrative functioning, but rather pointed towards a carefully planned strategy to inflate compensation claims.
The High Court further noted that the acquisition of ‘additional land’ appeared to have been exaggerated beyond actual project requirements. This, it said, was allegedly done to increase the compensation payout. In the process, landowners and officials are suspected to have jointly created circumstances that imposed an unnecessary financial burden on the public exchequer and enabled misuse of funds.
High Court Stresses Accountability in Public Projects
In its order, the court emphasized that such practices not only lead to financial losses but also undermine the credibility of governance systems. It stressed that transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects are non-negotiable, and any deviation from established procedures must be dealt with strictly.
The court directed the Chairman of NHAI to initiate a high-level inquiry into the entire episode. It also called for fixing accountability of the officials involved and ensuring appropriate action against those found responsible. The court indicated that the matter may involve more than mere administrative lapses, hinting at possible deliberate collusion.
The case is now expected to move into a detailed investigation phase, where land transactions, administrative approvals, and financial flows will be examined thoroughly. Authorities are likely to probe the extent to which rules were bypassed and identify all individuals involved in the alleged “concerted fraud.”
