A major land compensation scam has come to light in Kashipur’s ITI police station area, where two individuals — Amit Gupta and Shashi Gupta — allegedly forged documents to claim ₹1.5 crore in NHAI compensation for land already mortgaged to a bank.
The case was filed by Kalpesh Ojha, a representative of Omkara Asset Reconstruction Pvt. Ltd., which had acquired the defaulted loan from IFCI Factors Ltd. in July 2023.
According to the complaint, M/s Shree Shyam Pulp and Board Mills Ltd. had taken a ₹15 crore loan, mortgaging 5.03 hectares of land in Dabhaura Ehtamali, Kashipur, recorded jointly in the names of Amit and Shashi Gupta. When the company failed to repay, the account was declared a non-performing asset (NPA) in March 2014.
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How the Compensation Was Falsely Claimed
Investigators say the accused hid the mortgage details and filed false claims for compensation when part of the land was acquired by the NHAI for the Haridwar–Kashipur highway project. Using forged papers, they reportedly collected ₹1.5 crore in compensation, despite the original documents being held by the bank.
The police FIR, registered under Sections 418, 420, and 423 of the IPC, accuses the duo of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. The case also points to potential collusion with NHAI officials, now under review.
Legal and Administrative Response
Authorities have confirmed that the Special Investigation Team has begun reviewing all related paperwork, including compensation records and land acquisition files.
“The documents submitted to NHAI appear to be forged. Verification is underway, and strict action will follow,” a senior police officer told Dainik Jagran.
Bank representatives have demanded that NHAI recover the fraudulently claimed amount and that disciplinary action be initiated against any public officials found complicit.
A Familiar Pattern of Financial Deceit
This case mirrors a growing trend where mortgaged assets are illicitly used to claim compensation or sell property to third parties. Financial experts warn that weak verification procedures between banks, registrars, and public agencies enable such frauds.
With ₹1.5 crore siphoned off through forged papers, the incident underscores the need for real-time coordination between land records and financial institutions to prevent similar scams.
