Uttarakhand seizes land from UP MLA Raja Bhaiya’s wife | India News – Times of India

DEHRADUN: In a move that has attracted attention amid the Uttarakhand government’s consideration of a stringent law to protect agricultural land of takeover by ‘outsiders’, the district administration of Nainital has seized over half a hectare (27.5 nali) of land belonging to Bhanvi Singhthe estranged wife of Uttar Pradesh MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiya.
The land, located under the Kainchi Dham subdivision, was purchased for agricultural purposes in 2006, but no agricultural activity has taken place since then.
After an investigation, the tax authorities initiated proceedings to seize the properties. Despite challenging the action in the commissioner’s court and revenue commission, Singh’s appeals were dismissed.
Naresh Aswal, a revenue department official, said Uttarakhand law requires land acquired for agriculture to be used for that purpose within two years. “Our investigations revealed that there has been no agricultural activity on the land since 2006, prompting us to initiate the process of entrusting ownership to the government,” he said.
According to administrative sources, Singh had fenced the land with barbed wire to prevent encroachment, but after noticing the lack of agriculture, she was issued a notice. After losing her appeal, the state formally took possession of the land.
Bipin Chandra Pant, sub-divisional magistrate of Kainchi Dham, said the land is now under government control and the fencing has been removed. The property is estimated to be worth between Rs 14 crore and Rs 15 crore. Raja Bhaiya, known as UP’s ‘strongman’ legislator, is an MLA (Jansatta Dal Loktantrik) from the Kunda Assembly.