Lokayukta summons Urban Local Bodies CVO in property survey scam

Tribune News Service

Panipat, August 24

The Haryana Lokayukta has summoned the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) Department for reportedly giving a clean chit to a private company that conducted the property survey in the state and IAS officers in his inquiry report. The Lokayukta also directed the complainant to remain present during the hearing on September 11.

PP Kapoor, an RTI activist, in Samalkha had filed a complaint against the ULB to Justice Hari Pal Verma, Lokayukta, Haryana, about an alleged scam in the property ID survey conducted by Yashi Company, a Jaipur-based firm, on July 16, 2023. Following the complaint, the then Khattar government blacklisted the company on September 12 last year, stopped its pending payment of Rs 4 crore and forfeited its deposits and cancelled the contract.

Kapoor said following his complaint, the Lokayukta had sought an investigation report from the Principal Secretary, ULB Department. “JS Boparai, CVO, ULB, has submitted its report to the Lokayukta, Haryana, on May 6, in which he gave a clean chit to government officials as well as the company,” Kapoor alleged.

Kapoor further said he challenged the CVO’s inquiry report and demanded a detailed inquiry by the ACB. Following his complaint, the ACB summoned the CVO, ULB.

A total of 8,02,480 property owners raised 18.74 lakh objections on the property ID/NDC portal of the ULB Department within 15 months from November 16, 2022 to March 21, 2024, which means 53,523 property owners raised approximately 1.25 lakh objections per month, he alleged.

The Jaipur-based company reportedly conducted the survey of a total of 42.70 lakh properties in 88 cities in the state, of which 21,35 lakh properties comprised vacant plots, under-construction and locked properties. Soon after, scores of property owners across the state complained of anomalies in filling of particulars, wrong measurements of their properties and several others.

Anomalies in filling of particulars

A Jaipur-based company, Yashi, reportedly conducted the survey of a total of 42.7 lakh properties in 88 cities in the state. A total of 8,02,480 property owners raised 18.74 lakh objections on the ULB portal from November 16, 2022, to March 21, 2024. The objections included anomalies in filling of particulars and wrong measurements of properties, among others