Nuh ex-District Revenue Officer arrested after SC intervention
The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Haryana, have arrested former District Revenue Officer of Nuh, Bijender Rana, following the Supreme Court’s intervention in the case of an unauthorised road from Nuh to Rajasthan to facilitate illegal mining.
It is alleged that while being posted as Consolidation Officer in Nuh in 2024, Rana, who was arrested on July 11, approved the consolidation scheme for Basai Meo village, Ferozepur Jhirka, on February 13, 2024. He approved the widening of two paths. Under Objection No. 2, villagers wrote complaints to him, alleging that the illegal roads were being constructed to facilitate illegal mining owners, crusher owners, and royalty contractors from Rajasthan, in collusion with some people from the village to earn profits. However, he dismissed their objection.
Instead, he accepted Objection No. 3 submitted by Hanif, the then sarpanch, and other villagers, and approved the consolidation scheme, increasing the width of the roads leading from the village to Nangal and Chhapra villages in Rajasthan from 4 ‘karam’ to 6 ‘karam’.
The State Vigilance has already arrested Sher Mohammad, Mohammad Latif, residents of Basai Meo, and three officials of the Consolidation Department.
Three more accused—Shabir, Shaukat, and Hanif—are absconding, and a reward of Rs 50,000 each has been announced for their arrest.
Empowered panel report
On March 19, the Supreme Court had asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to submit a report on the illegal road.
Basai Meo village is located in the foothills of the Aravalli range. The Ferozepur Jhirka-Biwan road passes through the village, which shares borders with Rajasthan on two sides, Nangal in the north and Chapra in the south.
As per the committee’s report, dated May 26, an unauthorised road was constructed through the Forest Department’s plantations of Basai Meo and areas protected under the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900.
“This road, built using heavy machinery, spans approximately 1.5 km and serves as a key route for illegal mining activities, enabling the transport of illegally extracted minerals to nearby Rajasthan-bordering villages,” said the report.
“The construction has caused severe damage to the Aravalli ecosystem and encroached on villagers’ agricultural lands, compelling them to seek judicial intervention,” it added.
Besides seeking a detailed report from the Chief Secretary, the CEC had recommended that the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Haryana, may be asked to submit a report identifying the names and designations of officials responsible for constructing the illegal roads in areas covered under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Additionally, the Divisional Forest Officer, Nuh, may be directed to initiate legal proceedings against these officials as per the provisions of Sections 3(A) and 3(B) of the Act, it added.
Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, in his affidavit dated May 15 in the Supreme Court, had informed that the investigation was entrusted to the State Vigilance and the ACB. An FIR was registered on June 1.
SC: Mafia strong enough to protect errant officers
In its order dated May 29, the Supreme Court had said, “It appears that the mafia is strong enough to protect not only its members but also the errant officers of the state government who have acted in collusion to benefit the members of such mafia.” The government had informed the court that the illegal road had been closed.
Haryana Tribune