Ganesh Kendale
DEHRADUN: In a move that has drawn attention amid the Uttarakhand govt’s consideration of a stringent law to safeguard agricultural land from acquisition by ‘outsiders’, the district administration of Nainital has confiscated over half a hectare (27.5 nali) of land belonging to Bhanvi Singh, the estranged wife of Uttar Pradesh MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh, also known as Raja Bhaiya.
The land, located under Kainchi Dham subdivision, was bought in 2006 for agricultural purposes, but no farming activity has taken place since.
The revenue department initiated proceedings to seize the property after an inquiry. Despite challenging the action in the commissioner’s court and the board of revenue, Singh’s appeals were rejected.
Naresh Aswal, a revenue department official, said Uttarakhand law mandates land purchased for agriculture must be used for that purpose within two years. “Our surveys indicated no agricultural activity on the land since 2006, prompting us to initiate the process of vesting the property in the govt,” he said.
According to administrative sources, Singh had fenced the land with barbed wire to prevent encroachment, but after the lack of farming was noted, she was served a notice. After she lost her appeals, the state formally took possession of the land.
Bipin Chandra Pant, Kainchi Dham sub-divisional magistrate, said the land is now under govt control and the fencing has been removed. The property is estimated to be worth between 14 crore and 15 crore. Raja Bhaiya, known as UP’s ‘strongman’ lawmaker, is an MLA (Jansatta Dal Loktantrik) from Kunda assembly.
