Chandigarh: The Punjab police has booked a woman and her son for allegedly selling a World War II era Indian Air Force (IAF) airstrip, located in Ferozepur district, fraudulently in connivance with the revenue officials, about 28 years ago.
The airstrip, located in Ferozepur's village Fattuwala near Pakistan border, which was used by IAF in 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars, was allegedly sold in 1997 by Usha Ansal and her son Naveen Chand Ansal, residents of village Demniwala village, district Ferozepur, currently based in New Delhi. According to reports, the airstrip was used as an advance landing ground (ALG) by IAF.
The issue was first flagged by a Ferozepur revenue department's retired ``kanungo’’, Nishan Singh, who also submitted a complaint to the vigilance bureau (VB) - and now after 28 years, an first information report (FIR) has been registered against Usha and Naveen for cheating (Section 420), forgery (sections 465 and 467) and criminal conspiracy (120-B).
While the commandant, Halwara Air Force station, had sent in 2021 a complaint to the Ferozepur deputy commissioner (DC) and sought an investigation in the matter.
However, anguished over the delay, Nishan Singh moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court over the inordinate delay in the case following which the court directed the DC in December 2023, to conclude the inquiry within six months.
The DC reported to court that the land was still with the Indian Army. However, not satisfied with the DC’s report, Nishan filed another petition alleging that several facts were being concealed and that the mutation of the said land was executed in the favour of private persons in 2001 in connivance with revenue officials.
Meanwhile, the commandant, Ferozepur, moved another application in 2024, to the Punjab governor demanding CBI inquiry into the matter, subsequent to which the latter wrote to the chief minister to get the matter looked into. Nishan Singh in his petition before the high court asked the VB director to also be made a respondent in the case to personally verify the veracity of the charges.
However, the airstrip was restored to the ministry of defence in May this year, after an inquiry conducted by district administration, the high court has been informed.
Meanwhile, the investigating officer (IO), deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Karan Sharma told FPJ that while accused Usha Ansal is said to have passed away, police would be questioning her son Naveen Chand soon. ``Also, since the investigation is still in progress, more accused are likely to be nominated in the case’’, the IO said.
