Rudrapur: Atul Pandey, the son of Gadarpur BJP MLA Arvind Pandey, has been accused of fraudulently acquiring and selling land belonging to the Buksa tribal community in Bazpur. According to official records, the dispute dates back to 2010, when Atul Pandey—then reportedly 16 years old—claimed possession of the land for over 50 years. This claim has come under scrutiny as his current age is recorded as 32, raising questions about alleged misrepresentation before the court.
Notice Issued by Tehsildar
Acting on a complaint filed by Semalpuri residents Nanhi Devi, Sanju Kumar, and Mangal Singh, tehsildar Pratap Singh Chauhan has issued a notice to Pandey, directing him to respond within a week. “Prima facie, it appears that false affidavits and fabricated evidence were used to transfer tribal land illegally,” an official said, adding that further action would follow if no reply is received. Chauhan stated, “The land appears to have been transferred to Atul Pandey on the basis of forged evidence, and despite a favourable court order, the complainants have not regained possession.”
Allegations of Forged Documents
The complainants alleged that the land was first registered in Pandey’s name using forged documents and later sold for Rs 28 lakh to Gurvinder Singh, before being purchased by Makkhan Singh. Under prevailing laws, the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals is strictly prohibited. Responding to the allegations, Atul Pandey said, “The dispute was decided in favour of the tribal claimant. I visited the tehsil on Wednesday to have that order duly recorded in the revenue records. The entry has now been made, and a certified copy has been issued to them on Friday.”
Court Ruling Yet to Be Implemented
Despite a favourable ruling by the DM’s court in favour of the tribal claimants, they are yet to regain possession of the land. The issue recently triggered protests outside the SDM office, where farmers and members of the Sikh community staged a demonstration. Makkhan Singh, holding his 40-day-old daughter, submitted a memorandum through the infant. “We were cheated using forged documents. Our land was taken and sold illegally. We only want justice,” one of the complainants said.
Official Intervention
Senior officials, including SDM Amrita Sharma and ADM Kaustubh Mishra, intervened and assured the protesters of appropriate action, after which the demonstration was called off. Meanwhile, Gulrabhog Nagar Panchayat chairman Satish Chugh raised concerns, saying, “The public deserves to know how identities and land records were altered in this case.”
The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by tribal communities in protecting their land rights from illegal transfers and forgeries. As the investigation proceeds, the authorities are expected to take further action to ensure justice for the affected parties.
