He Fought Three Wars. At 92, This Veteran Is Fighting To Reclaim His Jaisalmer Land

Last Updated:July 12, 2026, 17:37 IST

A 92-year-old Army veteran of the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars has alleged his Jaisalmer land was sold through forged documents and impersonation.

After serving the country in three wars, 1962 India-China War, and the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars, 92-year-old retired Army officer Captain Chunni Lal is now fighting what his family describes as the “fourth battle" of his life a legal fight to reclaim agricultural land in Rajasthan that he alleges was fraudulently sold without his knowledge.

The retired officer, a resident of Himachal Pradesh and one of the families displaced by the Pong Dam project, has alleged that land allotted to him in Jaisalmer’s Mohangarh area under a government rehabilitation scheme was first mortgaged and later sold for ₹25 lakh using forged documents and an impersonator.

His family claims a land mafia orchestrated the entire transaction by preparing fake paperwork and producing another person to pose as the veteran during the registration process.

Land Allotted Under Rehabilitation Scheme

Captain Lal said his family had surrendered fertile ancestral farmland in Himachal Pradesh when land was acquired for the Pong Dam project. In return, they received agricultural land in Rajasthan under the Indira Gandhi Canal rehabilitation scheme.

Recalling the early years after the allotment, the veteran said the land was nothing more than sand dunes. Over time, the family worked relentlessly to convert the barren desert into cultivable farmland.

Alleged Fraud Came To Light After Sale

According to Captain Lal’s son, Multan Singh Thakur, the disputed sale deed was registered on June 16, while the land mutation was completed on June 22.

Once the family learnt about the transaction, they approached Mohangarh police station but were directed to PTM police station because of jurisdiction. They were later asked to approach Kotwali police station, where the registration had allegedly taken place.

Thakur alleged that although his father is 92 years old, the accused allegedly produced a 75-year-old man before the sub-registrar, impersonating the veteran to execute the sale deed.

When the family approached revenue officials seeking cancellation of the mutation, they were allegedly informed that the matter could only be resolved through a court.

Repeated Visits Took A Toll On Veteran’s Health

The family’s efforts to seek action involved repeated visits to police stations and government offices, which they say affected Captain Lal’s health.

According to his family, the retired officer, who is a heart patient, became exhausted during official procedures and even fell asleep while giving his fingerprints.

Captain Lal said he had no knowledge of the alleged sale and travelled from Himachal Pradesh to Mohangarh immediately after learning about it to seek justice from the tehsil administration and police.

Veteran Alleges Organised Land Fraud

The former Army officer claimed the incident was not isolated but part of a larger network allegedly targeting landowners through forged documents and fraudulent registrations.

He alleged that Kangra-displaced allottees and ex-servicemen living outside Rajasthan are particularly vulnerable because they remain away from their allotted land for long periods.

Questioning the registration process, Captain Lal said proper verification of identity and documents by authorities could have prevented the alleged fraudulent transaction.

Ex-Servicemen Raise Concern Over Pattern

Lalaram Chaudhary, a retired Sergeant and in-charge of the Soldiers’ Rest House in Jaisalmer, backed the family’s allegations.

He claimed land brokers deliberately target Kangra-displaced allottees and retired servicemen because many of them live outside the region and are unfamiliar with local administrative procedures. According to him, forged documents are allegedly used to carry out fraudulent transactions and illegally grab land.

“It is unfortunate that a soldier who fought in the 1962 and 1971 wars has spent days travelling in hired taxis, borrowing money, just to seek justice," Chaudhary said, urging both the Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh governments to intervene.

FIR Registered, Investigation Underway

Following the family’s representation before the Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police, an FIR was registered at Kotwali police station.

Additional Superintendent of Police Rewatdan confirmed that a case had been registered based on the complaint of the retired Army officer.

“An ex-army man came to us and informed us that his murba (land deed) had been fraudulently registered in another person’s name through impersonation. A case has been registered at Kotwali police station. After a thorough investigation, appropriate legal action will be taken," he said.

Police said revenue department records have been sought as part of the investigation and assured that strict legal action will be taken against those found responsible.

Meanwhile, Jaisalmer Additional District Magistrate Parsaram Saini declined to comment on the matter, saying he was unaware of the case and that it falls under the jurisdiction of the Colonisation Department.

News india He Fought Three Wars. At 92, This Veteran Is Fighting To Reclaim His Jaisalmer Land

Read More