Three decades after the crime, a shocking case resurfaces as the Ferozepur police arrest a woman and her son. The charge is not just any fraud, but of selling a historic Indian Air Force airstrip.
A World War-II era airstrip was used by the Indian Air Force during the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars. It served as an advanced landing ground. Allegedly, a mother and son sold this airstrip off in 1997 with the assistance of some revenue officials. Now, 28 years later, accused Usha Ansal and her son Naveen Chand have been named in an FIR. Usha and her son Naveen belong to Dumni Wala village. In 1997, they illegally sold the IAF airstrip land, located in Fattuwala village, very close to the Pakistan border.
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Inquiry into Fraudulent Practices
An inquiry report numbered 24526/22/SM-11 was received on 20-06-2025. It came from the office of the Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab (Chandigarh Headquarters). This report revealed a fraudulent sale of defence land as per letter No. 145/2023 from the Ferozepur police and letter No. 519/2023 from the Ferozepur Vigilance Office.
According to the inquiry, Nishan Singh, son of Partap Singh, resident of Mohalla Kadian Wala, Ferozepur, lodged a complaint. Nishan Singh is a retired revenue official (kanungo). Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the original owner of the land, Madan Mohal Lal, died in 1991. The sale deeds were executed in 1997. The Jamabandi (land ownership records) from 2009-10 showed the names of several owners. They included Surjit Kaur, Manjit Kaur, Mukhtiar Singh, Jagir Singh, Dara Singh, Ramesh Kant, and Rakesh Kant. The military had never transferred the land to them.
Vigilance Inspector Jagdeep Kaur conducted the investigation at the Ferozepur Vigilance Office. The report confirmed the fraudulent sale of land belonging to the Indian Air Force. This land is located in village Fattuwala, district Ferozepur, and measures 118 kanal 16 marla. The land, acquired on 12.03.1945 during British rule for use in World War II was under the Indian Air Force’s possession.
Delayed Justice and High Court Intervention
The commandant of the Halwara Air Force Station submitted a complaint earlier in 2021. It was addressed to the Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner. The complaint demanded a probe. After several delays, the High Court intervened and directed the DC to complete the investigation. Now, HC reprimanded Ferozepur deputy commissioner for inaction, pointing out the potential threat to national security.
The Punjab and Haryana high court had ordered Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) chief director to probe the allegation. It was only after HC intervention, that the land was finally restored to the ministry of defence.
The case has been registered under several IPC Sections. These include 419 (cheating by personation) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property). They also include 465 (forgery). They further include 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc). Additionally, 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) are included. DSP Karan Sharma is heading the investigation to identify all those involved in this long-concealed scam involving strategic defence land.
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