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Vigilance probe holds Patiala ex-DC guilty Chandigarh, September 27 Besides Garg, about 10 others, including officials of the Revenue Department and private persons, have been indicted and registration of a case has been recommended against them. The inquiry committee, led by V Neerja, in its probe conducted over a span of three months has stated the former DC, who was under suspension, played a role in the sale of land. The panel has recommended the custodial interrogation of those held guilty to get more facts about the case. Sources in the government said the inquiry panel recorded the statements of all the accused including Vikas Garg who pleaded ignorance and innocence in the case. He also pleaded he was not aware how the government land was transferred in the name of private persons. The inquiry was ordered by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in July after chargesheeting Vikas Garg for dereliction of duty.Garg was accused of not being able to prevent the loss of government property when he was posted at Patiala as Deputy Commissioner. The chargesheet held him guilty for sale of prime government land measuring about 6,000 sq yards and valued at around Rs 250 crore. Garg was suspended along with five other officials of the Patiala Revenue Department in May for alleged irregularities in the sale of government land in October 2011 under his watch. Others, who were suspended included District Revenue Officer Rajbir Singh, Tehsildar AS Thind, Naib Tehsildar GS Walia, Kanugo Pritpal Singh and Patwari Suresh Kumar. According to an earlier inquiry by Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia, the former DC had approved registering of two sale deeds (numbers: 15901 and 15902), registered at the office of Joint Sub-Registrar, Patiala, on October 14, 2011. The government had ordered a preliminary probe and assigned the then Divisional Commissioner, Patiala, SR Ladhar, who reported that Patiala revenue officials were involved in the controversial sale. Later, the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) Navreet Kang had also pointed out lapses following which the Revenue Minister himself got the matter reviewed and recommended a vigilance probe into the case. Majithia held that sale deeds were registered even though the land belonged to the government. Besides the general power of attorney and the special power of attorney (in the names of Ravdeep Singh and Jaswant Singh) used to sell the land stood cancelled and this fact was in the knowledge of those involved in the alleged scam. An attempt to get a sale deed of this property registered was made earlier also during the tenure of previous Deputy Commissioner Deepinder Singh, but he refused it on the ground that the said land belonged to the government. Govt land scam
VB recommends registration of case against him The chargesheet holds Vikas Garg (pic) guilty of the sale of govt land measuring 6,000 sq yards and valued at `250 crore He was suspended along with five other officials of the Patiala Revenue Department in May
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