Hastinapur land grab scam: Court cancels lease to 72

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A local court has cancelled leases granted to 72 persons, including a son of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader, on land in Hastinapur Sanctuary area, saying it is a government property.

The Revenue Court here yesterday declared as illegal the allotments of several hectares of land to all 72 persons, including Shivani Saini, son of BSP Rajya Sabha member Rajpal Singh Saini, and ruled that the land "cannot be allowed to be leased" out.

Additional District Magistrate Ram Kishan Sharma said a fraudulent co-operative society, led by Shivani Saini, had been set up to the get the lease.

Last month, a revenue clerk allegedly involved in Hastinapur sanctuary land grab scam had been dismissed from service by the district authorities here.

Several people, including revenue clerks, have been booked on charges of grabbing government land worth several crores of rupees at Hastinapur sanctuary in Majlispurtaufeer village in Uttar Pradesh.

Many cases have been registered in different police stations against the alleged encroachment in 27 villages in the district.