Rs 5 cr Himachal Pradesh temple land sold illegally, Prez seeks report

Palampur: The Office of President of India has ordered a probe into alleged illegal sale of land, building and temple belonging Shri Shri Mahalaxmi Trust at Dadh, near Chamunda temple, 20 km from here.

The President’s Office in a communication to the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue), Government of Himachal Pradesh, gave directions to look into the matter and submit a report. Acting on the directive, the state government asked Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hem Raj Bairwa to conduct a probe, which has already begun. Information gathered by The Tribune revealed Ajay Rajput, a resident of New York, United States, who is also the Trust president, in a complaint to President Droupadi Murmu had alleged a local resident, in connivance with revenue authorities, sold religious property of the Trust, comprising an inn for pilgrims, a temple and a shop measuring 5,860 square metres along with land valued at Rs 5 crore. The complainant had claimed while the market value of the property was Rs 5 crore, the mafia allegedly sold it at a throwaway price of Rs 85 lakh.

Rajput had claimed the Trust was set up by his family in 1995, which was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, before District Magistrate-cum-Registrar, Kangra.

The alleged seller was neither a member of the Trust nor authorised to sell its property, which was a public asset, it was claimed.

Since the complainant was living abroad, he learnt about the illegal sale in January 2024, despite the fact the first sale deed was registered in March 2023. Thereafter, he filed complaints before the President of India, Chief Minister and Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. He had requested the President of India to get a probe conducted by a premier investigation agency to bring the land mafia involved in the illegal sale to book.