Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed to probe alleged “benami” land deals at Gaggal Airport in Kangra district and in Gagret area of Una district.
The announcement was made in the state assembly while responding to a question raised by Gagret MLA Rakesh Kalia. The chief minister assured the House that strict action would be taken against those involved in illegal land transactions. He said that if anyone is found to have made benami transactions, their land will be confiscated and no compensation will be given. He also warned that strong legal action will follow against such persons.
A “benami” transaction refers to a property deal where the real beneficiary is different from the person in whose name the property is registered. Such transactions are illegal under Indian law.
Speaking in the assembly, the chief minister said the state government is serious about tackling corruption and irregularities in land purchases. He stated that the SIT will investigate the alleged deals at Gaggal Airport and Gagret thoroughly.
Sukhu asked MLA Rakesh Kalia to provide any documents or evidence he has regarding the alleged benami transactions to the SIT. He said that all material provided will be examined carefully during the investigation.
The chief minister also shared details about compensation paid for land acquisition related to the proposed expansion of Gaggal Airport. He informed the House that more than ₹1,460 crore has been distributed so far to 4,649 people whose land has been acquired. According to him, the compensation amount was transferred directly to the bank accounts of the affected persons as per the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act.
He stressed that the government is committed to transparency in land acquisition and will not allow any irregularities. The SIT will look into complaints that some individuals may have bought land in the names of others to benefit from compensation or price rise due to airport expansion.
MLA Rakesh Kalia had made serious allegations in the House. He claimed that large-scale benami transactions were first taking place in Gagret and are now happening around Gaggal Airport. He demanded a detailed investigation and strict action against those involved.
Kalia also alleged that a former official from Uttarakhand was involved in activities that harmed the state’s interests. He mentioned that a complaint of ₹8 lakh fraud had been filed but the investigation was not progressing properly. He urged the government to ensure that the matter is investigated fairly.
In response, the chief minister directed that copies of relevant case files be submitted to him and to the Director General of Police. He assured that no one would be spared if found guilty.
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Apart from the land deal issue, several other matters were discussed in the assembly session.
Health Minister Dr (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil informed the House that out of 1,469 posts reserved for persons with disabilities in the state, only 101 posts have been filled. He said the main reason for the vacancies is the lack of suitable candidates. The statement was made in response to a question by Nachan MLA Vinod Kumar, who had sought details about reserved posts lying vacant in different departments.
The chief minister also addressed concerns about underground utility ducts being constructed in Shimla. In response to a question by BJP MLA Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Sukhu said that the underground ducts being built for electricity, telecom cables, and water pipes are completely safe.
He explained that the project is aimed at improving the appearance of the state capital and solving the long-standing problem of overhead wires. Once the ducts are completed, there will be no need to dig up roads repeatedly for laying cables and pipes. The project from Chota Shimla to Scandal Point and Chaura Maidan is being built at a cost of ₹150 crore. He assured that there would be no compromise on quality.
Before the question hour began, Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur raised concerns that opposition questions were not being taken up in the House. Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania responded that there were technical issues with the National e-Vidhan Application (NEVA) system and that the matter had been raised with the Lok Sabha Speaker.
However, the main focus of the day remained on the alleged benami land deals. The formation of the SIT is expected to bring clarity on whether illegal transactions took place around Gaggal Airport and in Gagret.
The investigation will now examine land records, ownership details, and financial transactions to determine if any wrongdoing occurred. The outcome of the SIT probe will be closely watched, as it involves large sums of compensation money and public trust in the land acquisition process.
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