A dramatic land compensation saga involving a farmer from Bengaluru has jolted authorities in Uttar Pradesh. The Supreme Court has ordered a reinvestigation into a 2021 compensation payout of ₹295 crore made to a man named Reddy Viresra, who claimed to be the sole owner of land in Noida’s Sector-18 — where the DLF Mall now stands.
Initially, the Supreme Court had directed the Noida Authority to pay compensation based on the valuation of ₹1.10 lakh per square meter. Acting on the court’s order, Noida Authority deposited the entire ₹295 crore amount in court. But after new evidence emerged, the court has now cancelled its previous order and reopened the case.
Fake Claims, Missing Co-Owners, and a 26-Year-Old Land Deal
Investigations revealed that Reddy bought a plot of 14,358 sq. meters in 1997 for ₹1 crore. The land was part of a larger acquisition by Noida Authority in Sector-44. Out of this, Noida had only taken 7,400 sq. meters, while the rest was sold to DLF Universal Ltd for ₹173 crore.
Another farmer, Vishnu Vardhan, later approached the court claiming he too had joint ownership of the land, along with a third person named Sudhakar — both of whom were excluded from the compensation. He alleged that Reddy presented false documents and misled the court into awarding him the entire amount.
Apex Court Slams Fraud: ‘Justice and Deceit Can’t Go Together’
In a strong observation, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Suryakant, Dipankar Dutta, and Ujjal Bhuyan declared that no judicial order obtained through fraud can be valid. The bench remarked, “Justice and fraud cannot go hand-in-hand.”
It has now directed that the entire ₹295 crore, already deposited by Noida Authority, be returned and redistributed only after a thorough and fresh legal process. The court also permitted attachment of Reddy’s assets until the matter is resolved.
The Fallout: Mall Management Refuses Payment, Noida Moves to Reclaim Funds
Following the court’s new directive, the DLF Mall management refused to release ₹236 crore, which they had been instructed to pay to Reddy earlier. Noida Authority is now in the process of reclaiming the amount already deposited and has also moved the High Court to stop disbursal of funds.
Meanwhile, farmer Vishnu Vardhan has filed a new petition seeking ₹100 crore as his rightful share, citing negligence by revenue officers for not recording his ownership. The matter has implications beyond land compensation — raising questions about procedural lapses, fraud in land claims, and possible complicity of government officials.
What began as a routine land compensation case has now turned into a massive legal and financial scandal. As the judiciary reopens the matter, authorities face pressure to recover the funds, prosecute those involved in the fraud, and restore credibility in the land acquisition process. The Supreme Court’s blunt message makes one thing clear: deception, even if once sanctioned, will not be tolerated in the name of justice.