Multi-crore land deal by IAS officer's family halted in Haryana

The Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner Revenue, TVSN Prasad, has restrained registration of transfer deeds in Panchkula tehsil after the Ambala Divisional Commissioner, Renu Phulia, passed a controversial order over a 14-acre land.

It was later revealed that it was her husband Satyavir Singh Phulia, who serves as Information Commissioner in Haryana, and her son Neelanchal who were purchasing the property.

Prasad issued the directions on March 29 after DC Panchkula had written to him for “guidance” following Renu Phulia's order. The DC approached the Chief Secretary after he received a request from Naib Tehsildar.

The disputed land was part of the land inherited by the legal heirs of Bhagwant Singh who was the owner of around 1,396 acres.

Renu Phulia in her order had observed that Prithvi Raj Chabbra, his sister Shashi Gulati (ex-IAS), and Sunil Kumar Gulati (ex-IAS) were “absolute property owners in the revenue record. They had bought the land from the legal heirs of Bhagwant Singh”.

She revoked a stay imposed by Collector Agrarian, dated September 18, 2003, on the transfer of land and removed any embargo on any document they presented for registration.

Then on March 28, two sale deeds, including one between Chabbra and Satyavir Singh Phulia, were executed.

After getting contacted, Renu Phulia said, “There is nothing wrong with the sale deeds. I had taken permission for the purchase of the property. My husband too had informed the deal to Chief Information Commissioner. We had paid in white. I had withdrawn money from GPF. The sale deeds were of March 28. My reasoned order on vacating the stay over the land was delivered on September 13, 2023.”