HC orders re-examination of stamp duty case involving Ramdev

NAINITAL: Uttarakhand High Court has quashed the order of State Revenue Board on alleged stamp duty evasion by yoga guru Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved Ltd based in Haridwar.

In an order issued yesterday, Justice B S Verma of the High Court asked the District Magistrate of Haridwar to re-examine the case after hearing the parties involved.

The order came on a petition filed by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd stating that in 2008, the company had purchased 57 hectares of land in Mustafabad village in Haridwar district. The due stamp duty was paid on prevailing circle rates, the counsel of the petitioner said.

After going through the documents submitted by the firm, the court directed Haridwar DM to hear the case in the light of facts submitted by the company. Haridwar administration had filed over 90 cases of stamp duty evasion and gross violation of land laws by Ramdev's Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust late last year.