Mother of all land scams? Punjab mother-son duo allegedly sold off a whole defence airstrip
land fraud
case of staggering proportions has come to the fore in Punjab, where a mother-son duo has sold off not just any plot of land but an entire defence airstrip, the Times of India reported on July 1.
Usha Ansal
and
Naveen Chand
, the mother and son in question, have been accused of selling a World War II-era airstrip. This airstrip, located in Fattuwala village near the Pakistan border, was previously used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during multiple wars, including the 1962, 1965, and 1971 ones.
As the investigation unfolds, the case raises grave concerns about how such significant land can be misappropriated and the implications it holds for national security. The repercussions of this alleged scam are likely to reverberate through various levels of government and military oversight.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Long legal war
The allegations date back to 1997, when the two allegedly colluded with revenue officials to claim ownership and sell the land fraudulently.
Following a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has been tasked with investigating these serious allegations. The report, which has led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), was filed on June 20.
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The FIR cites multiple charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
The case first came to light through a complaint by Nishan Singh, a retired revenue official. Despite his efforts, the matter remained pending without any action until 2021, when the commandant of Halwara Air Force Station urged a probe into the sale of the land.
Following lingering inaction, Nishan Singh sought the intervention of the High Court, leading to greater scrutiny of the situation.
Major implications
Justice Harjit Singh Brar of the High Court has been vocal about the implications of the case, pointing out the potential threat to national security. He called for the VB chief director to verify the allegations personally and to report back within four weeks.
The court highlighted that the original owner of the land had passed away in 1991, yet fraudulent sale deeds surfaced in 1997, listing other individuals as owners, despite the military never transferring the land to them.
In May 2025, after persistent legal efforts, the land was finally restored to the Ministry of Defence. The investigation, now led by DSP Karan Sharma, is now looking to uncover the full extent of the scam and identify all individuals involved in this long-concealed fraud concerning strategic defence land.
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