NOIDA: Allegations from farmers, raised in the Supreme Court, suggest that Noida Authority officials demanded a 10% cut from the excess compensation funds they received, placing the agency’s operations back under judicial scrutiny.
Noida Authority’s reputation has suffered significantly due to recurring corruption scandals. Notable cases include the conviction of former CEO Neera Yadav for favoring her family in land allotments and the extensive fraudulent maintenance contracts involving former chief engineer Yadav Singh. The Comptroller and Auditor General has revealed numerous irregularities, and the Supertech twin towers case drew sharp criticism from the Supreme Court, consistently bringing issues of corruption and collusion to the forefront.
The Supreme Court highlighted these concerns while ordering the demolition of the twin towers in 2021 and when abolishing toll collection on the DND Flyway in 2024. Back in 2011, Noida officials were reprimanded by the Supreme Court for favoritism in plot allocations.
With an annual budget of ₹8,732 crore for 2025-26, Noida Authority operates in an area characterized by some of the country’s most valuable urban land, a position that subjects it to intense scrutiny regarding land distribution and associated discretion.
Neera Yadav, a 1971 IAS officer and former Noida chairperson, was convicted in 2012 by a CBI special court for illegally allotting plots to herself and her daughters during her tenure (1994-95). Initially sentenced to three years in prison, the Supreme Court later reduced her sentence to two.
A writ petition lodged in 1997 by the Noida Entrepreneurs Association accused the Authority of systematic bias in plot allocations. The Supreme Court’s ruling in 2011 confirmed that officials had improperly favored certain contractors and ordered a CBI investigation.
Contracts for Cash
Another facet of corruption within the Authority involved tender-rigging for bribes, notably in the case of Yadav Singh, who served as the chief engineer for Noida. Singh was implicated in a scam involving 1,280 maintenance contracts worth ₹954 crore in 2011.
Singh was suspended in June 2012 after being accused of embezzlement related to infrastructure projects. Following income tax raids, he was dismissed and arrested after authorities discovered ₹12 crore in cash and valuable jewelry outside his residence.
A CBI chargesheet claimed Singh awarded contracts worth ₹92 crore for underground cable-laying work to certain firms in December 2011, with bribes funneled through investments made by his wife.
The case remains ongoing, and Singh is currently out on bail.
Builder-Official Collusion
On August 31, 2021, the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of Supertech’s twin towers for violating building regulations. In his ruling, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud noted the apparent collusion between Noida Authority officials and the developer, highlighting numerous oversights.
The towers were demolished on August 28, 2022, using a controlled implosion, resulting in 80,000 tonnes of debris and prompting stricter regulations on real estate projects in Noida.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on the DND Flyway in December 2024 echoed similar sentiments, citing serious misconduct and misuse of power regarding toll collection practices, implicating collusion among various state officials and the Noida Authority. The court described the misappropriation of project funds as a potential case for investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act, though it acknowledged the challenges of pursuing legal action after such a delay.
The allegations raised by farmers are currently under investigation by a special team tasked with tracking the financial trail of the purported illegal cuts taken by officials.
Senior Supreme Court advocate M.L. Lahoty stated that the court has repeatedly highlighted corruption within Noida Authority, suggesting that the structural conditions enabling such issues need to be addressed for genuine change.
Yogendra Narain, former UP chief secretary and founding chairman of Greater Noida Authority, suggested the establishment of an independent ombudsman, led by a retired high court judge, equipped with former CAG officials and police, to effectively monitor and combat corruption in Noida Authority.
A senior official from the Noida Authority mentioned the introduction of e-auctioning for properties to enhance transparency, providing equal opportunities for all stakeholders. The Authority also operates a Jan Sunwai portal, an Integrated Grievance Redressal System, and undergoes regular audits by the CAG and state to ensure accountability.
