Shimla, Sep 13 (Agency) A former IAS officer and other revenue officials were booked in a cheating, forgery and violation of forest act case by the state police on Saturday, police said on Monday Superintendent of police Shimla Ms Monika Bhutunguru informed that the case belonged to a crime involving handing over huge chunks of forest land to private people under Chopal Police station . The case registered on September11, 2021 mentioned that former IAS officer Deva Singh Negi, along with others, who was serving as settlement officers at the crime have been made accused in the FIR.
Mr Deva Singh Negi was an officer of the State Administrative Service and later he became an IAS officer in 2015. In addition to Deva Singh Negi, a woman identified as Nira Devi wife of Sushil Kumar of village Gorli, Post office Marog of Chopal Tehsil, a Naib Tehsildar and Kanugo have also been made co-accused, in the case registered under section 420, 467, 468, 469, 471, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 41 of the Indian Forest Act . No arrested have been made in this case so far, police said. The case was registered after the government probe about transfer of government land in the name of private person. The FIR has been lodged on the written complaint of Ramesh Chand, Randhir Kumar, Papindra Singh, Vikas and Khushi Ram of Kelvi Lohara village in Chopal police station. The complainant alleged that a private person from village Gorli had bought a Nautaur land(alloted land) from someone when the land was transferred to this person and the matter reached the Settlement Department.
Complainants said that it was a conspiracy and fraud by the accused officer and employees in connivance with the private person as in addition to nautaur land, more forest land was also transferred to a private person. DSP Chopal Mr Raj Kumar said that the matter is related to revenue documents. The investigation has been started and all the related documents will be taken into custody soon. The ‘nautaur’ land measuring nine bighas was bought by a private person which was later increased to around 25 bigha, the complaints alleged The alleged crime come to light after a land dispute between two parties as the complainant had taken this issue before many forums and officials. These officers advised the complainant to register an FIR in the matter.