Punjab authorities have recovered a long-missing 1963 land-acquisition record, intensifying the probe into alleged “double compensation” on the Dharmkot–Shahkot stretch of National Highway-703. The discovery raises serious questions about whether multiple landholders received payouts twice—once in 1963 and again during the 2014-2019 NH-703 widening project.
The Vigilance Bureau (VB) filed an FIR against Moga ADC Charumita, former PWD XEN VK Kapoor, and Circle Revenue Officer Maninder Singh. They allegedly approved Rs 3.7 crore in compensation in 2019 without checking the original 1963 acquisition by PWD (B&R).
The High Court had earlier criticized the departments for failing to produce the 1963 records. It even warned that it could order an independent agency to register FIRs against senior officials if the files remained missing.
On November 13, the Moga district administration retrieved the 1963 revenue record. The record confirms that the land had already been acquired decades ago. Authorities now suspect that some individuals may have illegally claimed compensation again in 2019, treating the land as newly acquired.
Senior officials say this discovery has changed the trajectory of the investigation. The VB plans to question both past and present revenue officers involved in demarcation, verification, and land-ownership records. Investigators aim to uncover any larger nexus and identify all beneficiaries who might have received double payouts.
The recovered file also intensifies scrutiny on officials who approved payments without proper verification. Authorities are determined to ensure accountability and prevent such irregularities in future land acquisition and compensation processes. The probe could widen further as investigators examine forward and backward linkages related to NH-703 compensation.
