Kulgarhi police station has registered an FIR against Usha Ansal and her son, Naveen Chand Ansal, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 467, 471, and 120-B (criminal conspiracy), for allegedly selling land belonging to the historic Indian Air Force's Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) located in Fattu Wala village, Firozepur district, Punjab, through fraudulent means. It is alleged that this land, used during the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars, was transferred to the names of private individuals in 1997 through false documents, in collusion with some revenue officials.
Sensitivity of the Historic Land and High Court Hearings
This land is not only important from a security perspective but was also acquired by the Royal Air Force during the British era (1939) due to its strategic location. The Indian Air Force used it for emergency landings during three wars. The High Court played a significant role in accelerating the investigation of the case. The investigation gained momentum due to the investigation report written by the Commandant of Air Force Station Halwara to the Deputy Commissioner in 2021, and a petition filed in the High Court by retired revenue officer Nishan Singh.
Delay in Investigation and Allegations of Document Tampering
The officers' report stated that according to the revenue records of 1958-59, the land is still in the possession of the Air Force. However, Nishan Singh alleged that the filing-cancellation was done incorrectly in 2001 in collusion with revenue officials, and the land was transferred to private hands. He sought a review of the matter from the High Court, and the court directed to complete the entire investigation within six months in December 2023. In May 2024, a portion of that land was returned to the Ministry of Defence.
The Truth Behind the Crop Manager Scheme
This land was originally allocated to Madan Mohan Lal and his brother, Tek Chand, under Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's Crop Manager Scheme in 1964. The scheme aimed to promote agriculture on vacant defense land. However, after the death of Madan Mohan Lal, the land was allegedly sold to private hands by misusing his 'General Power of Attorney'.
This case is not merely a fraud of government land, but it also indicates a deep conspiracy and negligence in the administrative system, related to national security sensitivities. While an FIR has been registered, the responsibility of management and investigation has now been placed on the court, police, and administration. Action will be taken soon, only then such incidents can be prevented in the future.
