It’s important to note that the Fattuwala village airstrip is located in close proximity to the Pakistan border. It was only in May 2025, following intervention by the High Court, that the land was finally restored to the Ministry of Defence.
New Delhi: Did you know that a World War-II era airstrip, which was used by Indian Air Force during the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars as an advanced landing ground, was allegedly sold off by a mother and son in 1997? Accused Usha Ansal and her son Naveen Chand have now been named in an FIR, after 28 years. According to the report, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) chief director to probe the allegation.
What are the cases registered under the IPC?
The case has been registered under IPC Sections 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 465 (forgery), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
DSP Karan Sharma is heading the investigation to identify all those involved in this long-concealed scam involving strategic defence land. It is important to note that the Fattuwala village airstrip shares a very close proximity with the Pakistan border. It was only in May 2025, after HC intervention, that the land was finally restored to ministry of defence.
Here are some of the key details:
- The Vigilance Bureau (VB) inquiry confirmed that the land rightfully belongs to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- The land was originally acquired by the British administration on March 12, 1945, for use during World War II
- It has remained under IAF control and played a role in three subsequent wars.
- The investigation revealed that the accused, Usha and Naveen from Dumni Wala village, fraudulently claimed ownership of the land in collusion with certain revenue officials
- They sold the land by forging land records.
- The original complaint was filed by whistleblower Nishan Singh, a retired revenue official, but nothing happened for years.
- In 2021, the commandant of Halwara Air Force Station wrote to the Ferozepur deputy commissioner demanding a probe. Still nothing happened.
Who filed the petition?
A petition was filed in the High Court by Nishan requesting an investigation into the matter. According to the petitioner’s counsel, the original landowner, Madan Mohal Lal, had passed away in 1991. Despite this, sale deeds were executed in 1997, and by 2009-10, the Jamabandi listed Surjit Kaur, Manjit Kaur, Mukhtiar Singh, Jagir Singh, Dara Singh, Ramesh Kant, and Rakesh Kant as owners. However, the land had never been officially transferred to them by the military.
HC reprimanded Ferozepur deputy commissioner for inaction, pointing out the potential threat to national security. In his order, Justice Harjit Singh Brar asked Punjab VB chief director to personally verify the veracity of the allegations and, if required, take action. He was asked to conclude the probe within four weeks.
