JAISALMER: In a significant anti-corruption initiative, Settlement Commissioner Nikaya Gohaen has dismissed four officials from the Ram Nagar settlement department in Jaisalmer district after uncovering fraudulent plot allocations. The officials removed include RI Vikram Singh, Patwari Kishor Ram, senior assistant Yogendra Kumar, and junior assistant Shivraj Singh, all of whom were let go on Saturday.
The investigation revealed that the Nachna settlement had been plagued by corruption, with irregularities dating back to 2006. Notably, there was a case involving plot allocations meant for 2006 that were only executed in 2016, leading to a government loss estimated at around Rs 5 crore. A committee formed in 2006 recorded 54 allocations but left the register unsigned. This enabled officials to allocate 17 canal plots on these vacant sites in 2016. A complaint indicated that the plot book used for these allocations was issued in 2016, raising serious questions about their validity.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is currently examining multiple cases, with departmental investigations still underway. A fire at the Nachna settlement office a few years ago destroyed many records, complicating the investigation into the depth of corruption. Additionally, the probe uncovered approximately 216 instances where canal land was allocated using counterfeit plot books.
Commissioner Gohaen asked the involved officials for explanations, but their responses were found lacking, resulting in their dismissal. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on approximately 5,000 bighas of government land in the Nachna area, as further evidence is being sought to complete the inquiry.
