Congress demands CBI probe into Rs 600-crore land scam in Sepahijala district

The Tripura Pradesh Congress on Friday demanded a CBI probe into an alleged land scam worth Rs 600 crore in Sepahijala district, citing a report by a former District Magistrate that exposed large-scale illegal diversion and sale of government land.

Dr Vishal Kumar, former District Magistrate and Collector of Sepahijala district, in a letter to the Additional Secretary of Revenue department, had claimed large-scale land diversion and illegal sale of Khash (government) land amounting to Rs 600 crore and requested him to probe the allegations.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan on Friday afternoon, Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha said that senior Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman tried to raise the issue during the recently concluded Budget session of Assembly. Later, he briefed the media about the scam in the district. It is unfortunate that Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, who holds the Revenue portfolio, is yet to take any action, said Saha.

Quoting the then DM's report, Ashish Saha had claimed that around 1,400 'Kani' land amounting to Rs 600 crore was illegally diverted from Khash land to 'Jote' (private) land and sold to different people. 'Kani' is a traditional unit of land measurement, roughly equivalent to 20,000 square feet.

He alleged that without proper procedure, 'khash' land was first shown as allotment and then sold to the different persons at exorbitant prices. In some cases, tea estate's land and enemy property were also sold without proper process. In his report, the then DM alleged association between land mafia and officials of the department, said Saha.

In other states, High Courts courts take suo motu cognisance in such scams and pass directives to the government to ensure justice, but in Tripura it has not happened yet, he said, adding that the Lokayukta was yet to take any initiative for justice.

Congress wants the Chief Minister to order a CBI probe into the alleged land scam and party will wait for 15 days before hitting the streets on the issue, said PCC president.