Row erupts over Dhirendra Brahmchari’s ashram land

The 24-acre land at Silokhra village is available for a mere Rs 55 crore

OFFICIALS SAID THAT THEY ARE CONTEMPLATING ORDERING ATTACHMENT OF THE ASHRAM LAND AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE DISPUTES

CHANDIGARH: A 24-acre chunk of prime land in Gurugram, owned by Yoga Guru Dhirendra Brahmchari’s Aparna Ashram Society, is at the centre of controversy following the sale of the land at a ‘throwaway price’ to three private companies.

A sale deed for 24 acre at Silokhra village in Gurugram was registered by the naib tehsildar of Wazirabad in December 2020 for a mere Rs 55 crore.

Undervalued sale, skipped e-registration

Red flag was raised by Surya Prakash, the legal representative of the Ashram, following which, an inquiry was ordered by the state government.

During inquiry it was found that not only was the land sold by members of the society to three companies at a highly undervalued price, the sale deed was also executed manually by skipping the electronic appointment process.

The inquiry being conducted by the Gurugram divisional commissioner is also examining the implication of a 2016 order of a civil judge restraining the members of the society from interfering in ownership and possession of the society.

Officials said that after the death of Dhirendra Brahmchari, a dispute broke out between members of the society and is continuing in different courts for the past two decades.

‘Will cancel sale deed if there is undervaluation’

State revenue minister Dushyant Chautala said that under the Indian Registration Act, the state government has the power to cancel the sale deed. “We will cancel registration of the sale deed if there is an evasion of stamp duty due to under valuation of the property and execution of sale agreement despite orders of the civil court. Action will be taken as per law,” Chautala said.

Top officials said that the district officials have been asked to take prompt action and remedial measures as well is this regard.

“On the basis of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for reaching at an agreed price, it is beyond doubt that the agreed price of the land of Aparna Ashram was ₹12 crore per acre which works out to be ₹288 crore for 24 acre. Hence, the sale deed of ₹ 55 crore is grossly undervalued,” said a communication sent by the revenue department to the Gurugram deputy commissioner.

Former DC’s order challenged in HC

After the controversy broke out, the then Gurugram deputy commissioner had set aside the registration deed after first allowing manual registration of the same.

The order of the deputy commissioner has been challenged by one of the private buyers of the Ashram land in the Punjab and Haryana high court on grounds that the order lacked jurisdiction.

The case is next listed for February 15. The current deputy commissioner, Yash Garg, when asked about the controversial order of his predecessor to set aside the registration deed and actions recommended by the state government, said that the deputy commissioner, also being the registrar, had passed the order to set aside the registration.

“We will follow all directions of the state government and the court,’’ Garg added.

Officials said that there are a whole lot of issues which need scrutiny in this affair.

“How was the sum of ₹55 crore arrived at for sale of a prime piece of land? Did the managing committee of the Ashram pass a resolution in this regard?’’ an official questioned.

Officials said that they are also contemplating ordering attachment of the Ashram land as there are multiple disputes.