How Haridwar agricultural land turned into Rs 54-crore deal after procedural lapses

Haridwar,UPDATED: Jun 24, 2026 22:01 IST

For years, Uttarakhand has witnessed intense debates over the need for stringent land laws. Successive governments have argued that stricter regulations are necessary to protect the state's fragile geography and prevent the exploitation of local landowners. However, the Haridwar land scam has exposed how government officials allegedly syphoned off public money by misusing administrative powers.

At the centre of the controversy is a 2.307-hectare plot in Sarai village of Haridwar, located adjacent to a municipal solid waste dumping yard. Local residents say the area suffers from foul smell, pollution and health concerns because of the landfill.

According to the investigation, the agricultural land was worth around 14 crore. Yet, within days, the same land became part of a 54-crore government purchase.

The case dates back to September 2024, when members of the Singh family from Sarai village offered to sell their land to the Haridwar Municipal Corporation, claiming that the nearby solid waste dumping yard had rendered the property unusable. The offer was allegedly made to then Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary.

Investigators later found that then Jwalapur SDM Ajayveer Singh allegedly changed the land use from agricultural to commercial under Section 143 of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act. The inquiry found that officials completed the conversion process at an unusually fast pace. Although authorities must issue notices for at least 22 days and constitute a committee to assess the feasibility of land acquisition, officials allegedly bypassed these requirements and completed the process with remarkable speed.

Once authorities changed the land use, the value of the property reportedly jumped from around 6,000 per square metre to nearly 25,000 per square metre. The Haridwar Municipal Corporation subsequently purchased the land in December 2024.

Haridwar Mayor Kiran Jaishal first raised questions over the transaction and brought the matter to the attention of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in early 2025. Following the complaint, the state government ordered an inquiry and assigned Secretary Ranveer Singh Chauhan to investigate the deal.

After examining the purchase process and related approvals, Chauhan submitted a detailed report. The findings triggered one of the biggest administrative crackdowns in Uttarakhand's recent history.

In June 2025, the state government suspended Haridwar District Magistrate Karmendra Singh, Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary and SDM Ajayveer Singh, along with several other officials. It marked the first known instance in Uttarakhand where a serving District Magistrate, Municipal Commissioner and SDM faced suspension together in connection with the same case.

The inquiry report highlighted several alleged irregularities. Investigators found that authorities initiated the acquisition process based on agricultural land valuation but completed the purchase at commercial rates.

The report also stated that officials failed to constitute a mandatory land committee and bypassed several procedural safeguards. Investigators further noted that the Section 143 conversion process was completed within a few days, an unusually short period for such approvals.

The vigilance probe examined land selection, valuation, change of land use and compliance with administrative procedures. Investigators questioned why authorities selected land located next to a garbage dumping site despite there being no immediate requirement for the purchase.

A year later, in June 2026, the Dhami government intensified its action. The state recommended the dismissal of former Municipal Commissioner and IAS officer Varun Chaudhary and sought a major penalty against former Haridwar DM Karmendra Singh. Authorities also initiated action against former SDM Ajayveer Singh and approved criminal proceedings against several other officials and employees. The government forwarded the proposal to the Union Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for further action.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the move as part of the government's zero-tolerance policy against corruption and said accountability would be fixed irrespective of rank or position.

Beyond the official files and inquiry reports, the controversy has deeply affected the residents of Sarai village.

Village head Manish Kumar said the dumping yard has severely impacted life in the area. According to him, residents face health problems, agricultural activity has suffered and landowners struggle to find buyers for their properties. He added that several Panchayat-related works have slowed since the scam came to light. Kumar also said genuine applications for land-use conversion now face delays because officials have become extremely cautious following the controversy.

Residents have also demanded the removal of the solid waste dumping site, alleging that it continues to damage public health and quality of life. They say conditions worsen during the monsoon season.

Ranvir Singh, a resident of Sarai village, said he owns nearly 12 bighas of land but has been unable to sell it because few buyers are willing to purchase property located near the dumping yard. He said the garbage problem has worsened over the years and many families are considering moving elsewhere in search of better opportunities.

Social activist JP Badoni alleged that the first major irregularity was the unusually fast land conversion under Section 143, which he said authorities completed in just 18 days. He questioned why the government has not taken action against the Tehsildar and Patwari whose reports formed the basis of the conversion process.

Badoni further alleged that the government's focus appears to be on lower-level officials while larger players involved in the alleged corruption have escaped scrutiny. He said the 54-crore land deal has become a symbol of how public money can be misused through administrative manipulation.

The Haridwar land scam has not only triggered unprecedented administrative action but has also reignited concerns over land governance, accountability and the protection of public resources in Uttarakhand.

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