Ropar, February 13
After preliminary investigations in the controversial benami land deal case in Naglian and Khairpur villages in Ropar, the police has identified Kulbir Singh, a close friend of Mr Abhay Chautala, as the “main missing link.”

The police investigations have revealed that it was Kulbir Singh, who, along with Sandeep Godhara, also a close friend of Mr Chautala and Krishan Sagwan, a Hisar-based lawyer, effected the purchase deed on the behalf of the benami land owners.

As per the theory worked by investigating officials in the case, Kulbir Singh was entrusted by the influential benami owners of the land with the task of purchasing the land.

As per investigations, he asked Krishan Sagwan to contact the sellers and inquire into the proper titles of the land owners. Krishan Sagwan visited Naglian and Khairpur villages and contacted the owners and revenue officials. He inquired about the cost of the land from the owners and verified the records from the revenue officials.

Later, Kulbir Singh, along with Sandeep Godhara and Krishan Sagwan, paid to the sellers the price they demanded and obtained power of attorneys from them. Similarly Kulbir Singh also obtained power of attorneys from seven of his kin and friends and got the land registered in their names.

Apart from Kulbir Singh, who was one of the owners of the land, none of other owners ever visited the area or were directly the part of the land deed, police sources said.

One of the owners of land, Kamir Singh, a resident of Mani Majra, who was arrested by the police, in his statement before the investigating officials, had stated that only Kulbir Singh knew about the land deed transaction.

He said he jointly owned a piece of land in Himachal Pradesh with Kulbir Singh. They sold the land in Himachal Pradesh and with the money purchased the land in Ropar. He was given the land in Ropar as per his share in Himachal Pradesh, he said. Kamir Singh has been released on bail.

The police was pinning its hopes on the arrest of Kulbir Singh. The sources said the police officials felt that only Kulbir Singh could spill the beans regarding the real owners of the controversial land.

The sources added that the police had acquired arrest warrants for all those booked in the case.