In a serious allegation of administrative failure, Congress spokesperson Abhinav Thapar has demanded immediate action regarding the alleged disappearance of crucial official records linked to the allotment of a massive 98.5-acre land parcel in Dehradun. Thapar claims the land, under the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIIDCUL), is now valued at a staggering approximately Rs 4,000 crore.
Congress Alleges Major Cover-Up in Land Deal
Abhinav Thapar has written urgent letters to the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary (Industry), and the Managing Director of SIIDCUL, flagging what he calls an "administrative failure with significant public interest and financial accountability implications." The core of his complaint is that vital note sheets and documents concerning the land allotment and all subsequent changes in land use, dating back to October 4, 2002, are missing from the official file.
Thapar revealed that following a press conference by the Congress, SIIDCUL provided a set of documents on November 28. However, the submission was shockingly incomplete. "It was shocking to see that only two pages of the note sheet, covering entries only till October 10, 2002, were shared. Major documents related to allotment procedures and land-use changes from October 4, 2002, till date are missing," Thapar stated.
Demands for FIR and Independent Probe
The Congress spokesperson has laid out a clear set of demands for the state government to address this potentially massive scandal. His primary demands include:
- The immediate registration of a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the missing documents.
- A complete reconstruction of the vanished official file.
- A time-bound independent inquiry conducted by a reputable agency.
- Disciplinary action against any officials suspected of collusion or gross negligence.
Thapar has expressed deep suspicion over the disappearance of decades-old records, suggesting it points towards possible corruption, illegal allotments, and undue financial benefits to private entities. He has asked the government to provide a written response detailing the steps being taken to investigate this matter.
Implications for Public Trust and Accountability
This case raises severe questions about transparency and record-keeping within a key state industrial development body. The alleged value of the land in question, running into thousands of crores, makes the disappearance of its procedural history a matter of grave public concern. Thapar's allegations underscore a critical need for robust systems to prevent tampering with or loss of sensitive official documents, especially those involving high-value public assets. The state government's response and the subsequent investigation will be closely watched, as they will set a precedent for administrative accountability in Uttarakhand.
