NDA legislator named in 10 FIRs as Muzaffarpur ‘land-grab’ probe widens

NDA legislator named in 10 FIRs as Muzaffarpur 'land-grab' probe widens The latest allegations come from a retired administration official who has accused Amit Kumar Ranu of fraudulently transferring 70 decimals of his ancestral land using forged documents.

Key points

• She had purportedly accused Rahul Thakur, Ujjwal Kumar Pandey, Kartik Kumar, MLA Ranu, his brother Sonu and others of acting in concert.
• SSP Mishra remarked so far, 28 FIRs have been registered throughout Ahiyapur, Brahmapura, Kachchi-Pakki (Sadar) and Belsand police stations, with seven individuals arrested.
• On August 23, Bihar Police had searched the residence of Ranu in connection with the case documented from Muzaffarpur's Ahiyapur.
• That mutation was subsequently secured in the name of one Krishna Nandan Paswan of Vaishali's Sadar police station using forged documents.
• According to the officer, the land was subsequently registered and mutated in the names of the MLA's brother Sonu Kumar alias Abhinav, and two others.

In the eye of a controversy involving charges of forcible demolition of houses and boundary walls in Muzaffarpur with the intention to grab land, LJP (RV) MLA Amit Kumar Ranu has discovered himself in fresh trouble now.

Meanwhile, the latest allegations against the Belsand legislator – he has been named in 10 FIRs in as plenty of days – come from a retired administration official who has accused Ranu of fraudulently transferring 70 decimals of his ancestral land using forged documents. The official has filed a complaint in this regard.

Muzaffarpur SSP Kantesh Kumar Mishra remarked, "The latest FIR registered on the basis of a complaint filed on August 29 alleged that 70 decimals (one decimal is equal to 0.01 acres) of the complainant's khetiani and ancestral land were first transferred through a purported agreement. That mutation was subsequently secured in the name of one Krishna Nandan Paswan of Vaishali's Sadar police station using forged documents."

In practice, the revenue employee concerned allegedly confirmed to the investigators that incorrect documents had been applied in the process.

"Two proceedings seeking cancellation of the mutation had been filed before the Muzaffarpur land deputy collector, " the officer remarked, adding that apart from the Belsand MLA, his brother Sonu, and two others, the FIR additionally names the circle employees, a revenue employee, and then circle officer. 'House razed, land forcibly occupied.

In another case registered on the complaint of a woman on August 28, the officer remarked, "She alleged that a forged sale deed relating to her husband's land at Paigambarpur Kolhua was prepared on August 26, 2022, showing a valuation of Rs 35 lakh. The document allegedly recorded payment through a bank cheque, although, according to the complainant, the amount was never credited to either her or her husband's account."

She had purportedly accused Rahul Thakur, Ujjwal Kumar Pandey, Kartik Kumar, MLA Ranu, his brother Sonu and others of acting in concert. She alleged that six rooms of her house in Bairia were demolished and the land forcibly occupied.

During the investigation, police additionally seized the bulldozer allegedly employed in the August 20 operation. Its operator cum owner was arrested and sent to judicial custody.

According to allegations, on August 20, more than 50 individuals. This person had arrived in SUVs and motorcycles with a bulldozer in tow, had demolished existing constructions at a plot in Ahiyapur. One of the vehicles allegedly carried a board of Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). Ranu is an MLA from the party.

Notably, an FIR lodged on one Prahlad Kumar's complaint alleged that the accused threatened to bury individuals in pits dug by the bulldozer and stated they could stay on the land only after paying funds to a "Boss", identified in the complaint as Sonu.

Police initially arrested two men called Sumit Kumar Srivastava and Sunny Singh. Two others were afterwards arrested from the MLA's office in a joint operation by Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi police.

Police had earlier searched the MLA's Bairia residence after obtaining a court warrant against him and his brother. The search, according to police, yielded partnership-agreement papers, bank-account details, vehicle documents and a signed blank stamp paper dated 2017. The SSP had remarked investigators were examining feasible document forgery and links with an organised land-related group.

Ranu, nevertheless, stated nothing incriminating was discovered at his residence and maintained that the disputed land did not belong to him or his family. The MLA additionally alleged that the police action was politically motivated.

SSP Mishra remarked, "After proper inquiry into the case, we will soon seek an arrest warrant against the MLA from the court." The officer stated the police are considering legally permissible action, including property seizure, against those discovered involved.

Taken together, the developments around NDA legislator named in 10 FIRs as Muzaffarpur 'land point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.