In a significant development, (ED) has uncovered evidence regarding the Sandeshkhali land scam. Suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan is the prime accused in the matter. The investigation has revealed a complex web of exploitation, around the sale of land owned by the people of Sandeshkhali.
According to reliable sources familiar with the matter, Shahjahan and his associates employed coercive tactics to obtain signatures from landowners. This activity granted him Power of Attorney to sell their land to third parties.
Additionally, they resorted to rendering land useless by flooding it with saline water, further facilitating their illegal acquisition schemes.
The ED’s findings indicate that once Shahjahan acquired the Power of Attorney, the land was sold to third parties. Lands were sold at exorbitant prices, leaving the original landowners with meagre compensation. The fraud has been explicitly mentioned in the charge sheet filed by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at a special court in Kolkata.
Moreover, beyond land grabbing, he reportedly coerced fisheries owners into selling their produce at unfairly low prices. Subsequently, these products were sold at inflated rates in the export market, providing undue benefits to Shahjahan.
The ED’s investigation revealed that he amassed a staggering sum of Rs 261 crore in the Sandeshkhali land scam alone. To date, the central agency has identified 59.5 acres of illegally acquired land and has seized assets and properties valued at Rs 27 crore belonging to Shahjahan.
The revelation of this extensive land scam underscores the urgent need for stringent action against those involved in such nefarious activities, serving as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for the affected communities.
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