The BJP government has displayed a firm commitment to tackling corruption cases related to ‘Land for Land’ during the Congress government’s last five years. In a crucial initial meeting, the Minister of Urban Development and Housing (UDH), Jabar Singh Kharra, underscored the gravity of these cases, estimating the corruption involved to be around one thousand crores.
Notably, high-ranking officials of the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) are implicated in these allegations, with complaints reaching even the Chief Minister’s office.
Following the minister’s meeting, a comprehensive list detailing all cases related to land exchange within the last five years will be compiled within seven days and presented for review. Until further orders are issued, no immediate actions will be taken in the ‘Land for Land’ cases, and instructions have been given to halt the current proceedings pending upcoming directives.
A thorough review of these cases will precede any subsequent actions, causing unrest among officials and brokers involved in the implicated transactions. The ‘Land for Land’ cases involve situations where individuals whose lands were acquired for projects were supposed to receive alternative land in exchange.
Despite these cases being unresolved for several years, when the previous government aimed to address them, brokers actively engaged in negotiations to secure valuable land from the acquired plots.
The magnitude of these transactions is reported to be around one thousand crores, prompting swift government action upon assuming office. Sources indicate that the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) may conduct an investigation into the matter due to the government’s serious stance.
In a prior case, ACB investigations into a singular plot led to the incarceration of several senior JDA officials. Considering land-related cases as organized crime may also prompt the involvement of the Special Operations Group (SOG). Minister Kharra’s decisive approach in the initial meeting signals the government’s intent to take a robust stance on addressing corruption in these cases.