Shimla | The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) on Monday attacked the Sukhu government over the alleged Chester Hill land scam in Solan, claiming the deal involves 275 bighas of prime land worth “hundreds of crores” and exposes a deep-rooted nexus between bureaucracy and real estate mafias.
Addressing a press conference at Combermere Hotel, CPM leaders Rakesh Singha, Sanjay Chauhan and Dr Kuldip Tanwar alleged that despite two separate inquiries by the Solan Municipal Corporation Commissioner and local revenue authorities (SDM and Tehsildar) flagging serious irregularities, the matter was “overruled” at the top level by granting a clean chit.
They also fashed photos of the the real estate colonies clifton valley Shimla where skyscrappers have come up in capital city and around in Himachal Pradesh, throwing all laws and regulations to winds.
The leaders claimed that the land use, ownership pattern and transaction pricing in the Chester Hill deal point to large-scale manipulation.
“Properties worth crores have allegedly been transferred at throwaway prices, raising red flags of benami transactions and illegal enrichment,” they said, adding that the assets of the Chief secretary under scanner have seen “unusual growth” innhis assets in recent years across Himachal and Punjab.
The controversy gained momentum after a viral expose by senior High Court lawyer Vinay Sharma, who put out documents suggesting irregular clearances and possible violations in the deal.
Sharma has threatened to lodge FIR at Chhota Shimla Police station and complaint to ED to bring the erring official to book.
CPM said its own scrutiny of documents indicates that statutory safeguards were bypassed to facilitate the transaction.
Flagging legal violations, CPM pointed to alleged breaches of Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972—which restricts transfer of land to non-agriculturists—and Municipal Corporation Act, 1994. “Section 118 is being systematically diluted, allowing backdoor entry of big money into Himachal’s fragile land economy,” the leaders said.
They also raised suspicion of hawala or unaccounted money being routed into real estate deals, demanding that financial trails be probed alongside land records.
“This is not an isolated case. It reflects a wider pattern where land mafia, contractors, politicians and sections of bureaucracy are working in tandem,” they alleged.
Demanding a time-bound SIT probe, registration of FIRs and immediate removal of the Chief Secretary, CPM warned that failure to act would trigger a statewide agitation.
The party announced plans to mobilise people and gherao the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat if accountability is not fixed.
“Follow the documents and you will uncover one of the biggest land scams in Himachal,” the leaders said, adding that a CPM team will also conduct an on-ground probe in Solan to “expose the full extent of the racket.”
They charged that CM had stated in Vidhan sabha that the government would remove officials with doubtful integrity.
But here is Chief secretary himself who is involved in the scam, they charged, exposing CM’s double speak.
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