Probe link between Noida officials and landowners, says SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a preliminary inquiry into an alleged collusion between Noida officials and landowners on land acquisition payouts. The development took place during the resumed hearing of a case linked to alleged inflated compensation to ineligible landowners.

A bench comprising justice Surya Kant and justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered the constitution of a special investigation team comprising three IPS officers to probe irregularities in the land acquisition payouts.

The bench ordered an inquiry after perusing a report of an SIT - set up earlier - which flagged shortcomings in the functioning of Noida Authority. The court said that no new building projects should be taken up in Noida without environment impact assessment (EIA) clearance and permission from the green bench of the Supreme Court, which hears cases related to the environment.

The new three-member SIT will replace the earlier one and will work on a new mandate.

ON financial trail
The previous SIT's findings pointed out excessive payments in 20 cases and said some Noida officials were suspected of involvement. The new SIT has been asked to examine financial trails, including bank accounts of officials, their families and landowners, as well as assets acquired during the period in question, to ascertain collusion.