Fake lease of government lands for National Highway expansion .... Two arrested ...!

Chennai - Bangalore Two persons were arrested last night in connection with the preparation of a fake lease for government land for the expansion of the National Highway and the compensation of Rs 33 crore.

Work is underway to convert the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway into a 6-lane road. Compensation was paid to private lands during the land acquisition for this work. It was alleged that in the year 2000, Ashish Mehta and Selvam got Rs 30 crore and Rs 3 crore respectively by leasing government land in Bhimanthangal village as private land.

District Crime Branch police have registered a case against eight persons, including Ashish Mehta, Selvam and then Revenue Officer Narmada of the Land Acquisition Division. As a result, the lease for 36 acres in the village has been canceled by the Office of the Commissioner of Land Administration and the lease for 46 acres by the District Revenue Officer.

The National Highways Authority (NHA) has only taken action to recover Rs 93 crore from 83 people who bought land that had been converted into government land before 1984 and received compensation. No decision has been taken on criminal action against them. However, an investigation is underway into how the 1984 registry converted the state space into private space.

Apart from these 83, Ashish Mehta transferred 7.5 acres of state-owned land in his name in 2000.

Of this, 2.5 acres were acquired for the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway expansion and Rs 30 crore was purchased for it. He also sold 28 cents of the space to Selvam. He has received compensation of Rs 3 crore for the place. The two were arrested by the District Crime Branch Police yesterday on suspicion of having direct involvement in the belt transfer case. The case is being investigated by the district criminal police.

Authorities have not yet arrested the two men who were complicit in making the fake patta, while two others have been arrested in connection with the forgery. Some of the officials have amended the government documents and helped to give them fake belts. Social activists have called for action against them.