Land scam suspected as image of fake e-way link road goes viral
Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav has ordered a probe into the circulation of a fake image showing alignment from Southern Patiala Bypass to Trans Haryana Expressway (NH-152D). Yadav has clarified that National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has finalised no such alignment and as such there was no DPR for the same.
The software file circulating on WhatsApp is fabricated. It is suspected that certain individuals may be spreading this misinformation to artificially inflate the value of land.
The matter came to light after Pardeep Atri, General Manager-cum-Project Director of NHAI, PIU Chandigarh, learnt about a software file being circulated on various WhatsApp groups by some unscrupulous elements posing as real estate agents to lure investors. In the image being shared on various WhatsApp groups, a proposed road was shown.
Source said one of the investors met Atri in order to crosscheck the facts and that’s when the scam came to light. It is not yet known who many people have been duped and ended up buying a land at inflated prices thinking that they would make profit once the road would be carved out of their land.
Sources said some colonisers had also bought the properties and installed pillar on the land. In a communique, the copy of which is with the Deputy Commissioner, it was requested to take stringent action against false information in public. It was also urged to spread awareness among people to avoid any potential exploitation.
Probe ordered
Ordering a probe, Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav said there was no proposal to align Southern Patiala Bypass and Trans Haryana Expressway (NH-152D). Certain individuals might be spreading this misinformation to artificially inflate the value of land.