Dehradun: After action by the district administration, large-scale irregularities have been exposed at the Vikasnagar Sub-Registrar Office in Dehradun. Following a surprise inspection conducted by District Magistrate Savin Bansal, serious lapses related to stamp duty fraud, illegal registrations, and record management were found. A recommendation for the suspension of Vikasnagar Sub-Registrar Apoorva Singh has been sent to the government.
According to reports, the District Magistrate conducted a surprise inspection of the Vikasnagar Sub-Registrar Office on May 4. During the inspection, several original deed documents from 2018 to 2025 were found in suspicious condition. Cases were also found where registered documents had been withheld in the office for months and years. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the administration seized important records and initiated an investigation.
The investigation also revealed that 25 registrations had remained pending and dumped in the office for years without any clear reason. Officials failed to provide satisfactory explanations when questioned. During the inspection, around 150 illegal registrations linked to Golden Forest accounts, which are restricted under High Court orders, were also detected.
The preliminary investigation found evidence of registrations being carried out on restricted land and hundreds of suspicious registrations related to Golden Forest properties. The administration is now investigating the role of employees and officials posted during that period.
According to the district administration, these illegal registrations not only caused heavy losses to government revenue but also created situations amounting to fraud against people purchasing land.
The investigation identified 47 cases of stamp duty evasion under Section 47-A. The administration believes that the matter may involve revenue losses worth crores of rupees.
District Magistrate Savin Bansal said that under the direction of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the district administration is working with a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and irregularities in revenue and land matters. He said that transparent, accountable, and public-oriented administration is the government’s top priority and strict action will continue in such matters.
The district administration has also begun investigating the tenure of all current and former sub-registrars posted in the office. A detailed report is being sent to the government to ensure departmental and legal action against those found guilty.
