EOW presents challan in land scam

Bhopal, Mar 10: The State Bureau of Investigation for Economic Offenses (EOW) on Monday presented charge-sheet against the six accused in connection with land scam worth crores before the Special Judge RK Bhave. The Court granted bail to five accused while bail plea of prime accused Babulal Sunhere is informed to be pending with the High Court.

Earlier, the Bureau had registered a case under sections 420, 447, 448, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC after the District and Sessions Judge Renu Sharma wrote a missive in this regard. About 3.5 acre land at Shyamla Hills near Chief Minister's residence, 2 acre land near Hotel Arch Manor in MP Nagar and about 2,000 square feet of land near Lily Talkie were allotted by preparing fake pattas and forging orders of the district court in 1987-88.

The issue saw the day of light when the land in MP Nagar was allotted to BDA in 2006. When the BDA started construction at the place, the so-called owner objected it and even moved the court leading to unearthing of the scam. On investigating the case, role of employees of district court and collectorate apart from a few advocates, builders and other people reportedly came under scanner. It also came to the fore that fake seals and signatures of a few magistrates were also used for issuing orders for the allotment of the land.

A case in this regard was registered with the MP Nagar police station against Krishna Kumar and four others in the past. They were informed to be landless persons before allotting the land in MP Nagar. Fake signature of one Yogendra Sharma, an employee of district court was used for the fraud. Later, the Court handed over the case to the Economic Offenses Bureau. Director General of EOB SK Raut confirmed that challan was presented against six persons before the Special Judge on Monday. The accused- Shailendra Kumar Jain, Roopshri Jain, Ravindra Batham, Laxmichand Jain and Mohammed Anwar were given bail while the plea for bail of prime accused Babulal Sunhere is pending with the High Court.