Guava Orchard Scam: Vigilance Bureau arrests absconding accused for fraudulently receiving Rs 12 crore compensation
Chandigarh, February 12, 2025: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has apprehended Sukhdev Singh, a resident of Chandigarh.He played a key role as a co-accused in the ‘Guava Orchard Scam’ that took place in Bakarpur village, SAS Nagar district, in 2016-17. The accused had fraudulently received approximately Ra 12 crore in compensation in his own account. He had also received funds in his wife’s account. Government officials and other individuals colluded to do this.
VB Exposes Land Fraud: Sukhdev Singh’s Role in Illegal Compensation Scam”
An official spokesperson of the VB disclosed the details. They stated that Sukhdev Singh played an active role in the criminal conspiracy. He indulged in cheating, forgery, and falsification of records. This caused wrongful loss to the state exchequer. He obtained illicit financial gains through bribery.
The VB investigation has revealed the intent to claim illegal compensation for Guava orchards. Sukhdev Singh purchased 3 Kanal 16 Marla land in village Bakarpur. This purchase occurred during the land acquisition process for the Aerotropolis project in SAS Nagar. Subsequently, he worked with the prime accused, Bhupinder Singh, who resides in Bakarpur. They attempted to falsely establish the presence of fruit-bearing Guava orchards on the land. He further ensured the collusion of the concerned Horticulture Development Officer. They fraudulently assessed and declared the trees as being over three years old. This declaration made them eligible for compensation under the fruit-yielding tree category.
Elaborating on the fraudulent scheme, the spokesperson disclosed that Sukhdev Singh and Bhupinder Singh had an agreement. Sukhdev Singh would bear all expenses, including bribing officials. Bhupinder Singh retained two-thirds of the compensation amount after fraudulently securing it.They aimed to obtain it from the Land Acquisition Collector (LAC), Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). They planned to do this using bribes and personal influence.
He further informed that they destroyed the original Khasra Girdawri revenue register (2016–2021) of village Bakarpur to facilitate the fraud. They prepared a forged Khasra Girdawri register in 2019.
Bhupinder Singh collaborated with revenue Patwari Bachittar Singh. They managed to manipulate the land records. This manipulation falsely reflected the existence of mature Guava orchards. Then, Sukhdev Singh fraudulently received Rs 2,40,96,442 as compensation from LAC, GMADA. His wife, Harbinder Kaur, also fraudulently received Rs 9,57,86,642 as compensation.
The spokesperson further revealed that to transfer Bhupinder Singh’s share out of the illegally obtained compensation, Sukhdev Singh had sold approximately 6 Bighas of land in village Chappar Chiri, in SAS Nagar district at an undervalued rate to Bhupinder Singh in 2022 after receiving the wrongful compensation. Similarly, his wife Harbinder Kaur sold 32 Kanals of land in village Kailon, SAS Nagar. This land was sold at an undervalued price to Bhupinder Singh.
The spokesperson added that despite repeated summons by the VB, Sukhdev Singh had been evading legal proceedings and was uncooperative during the investigation. Unlike other co-accused beneficiaries, he neither voluntarily surrendered the fraudulently obtained compensation amount nor sought anticipatory bail from the court by depositing the required sum in treasury.
He added that with the latest recovery of Rs 12 crore the total amount of compensation returned now would be Rs 100 crore as Rs 86 crore had already been deposited by other co-accused beneficiaries. So far the VB had already arrested 7 government officials and 16 private individuals in this scam and further investigation into the case is ongoing.
