Hazaribagh Land Scam News: ACB Arrests Nexgen Owner Vinay Singh in Illegal Mutation Case

Ranchi, September 25, 2025: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Vinay Kumar Singh, owner of Nexgen Automobiles, in connection with a major illegal land mutation case in Hazaribagh. The arrest took place on the evening of September 25, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation into land scams in Jharkhand.

Vinay Singh Accused in Hazaribagh Land Scam

According to officials, Singh is accused of criminal conspiracy with government officials to illegally mutate non-transferable land, including Gair Majrua Khas and forest-category plots. The case has been registered at ACB Hazaribagh Police Station under Case No. 11/25.

The charges against him include multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) — 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467, 468, 471 (forgery) — along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(d).

Land Mutation Cancelled in 2013

Investigations revealed that the Hazaribagh DC office cancelled five illegal land mutations in 2013. The decision was later upheld by the Revenue and Land Reforms Department of the Jharkhand government the same year.

The land in question was classified as forest land under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. A 2012 communication from the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Hazaribagh East, had already clarified that non-forestry activity or encroachment on notified forest land was a clear violation.

The letter also cited the Supreme Court’s order in T. N. Godavarman v. Union of India (1996), which made prior approval from the Government of India mandatory for using forest-classified land for non-forest purposes.

ACB Findings on Illegal Mutation

Despite the cancellation orders, Singh allegedly continued the practice of illegal land mutation in forest-category plots, gaining undue financial benefits through conspiracy with officials.

The investigation found that Singh and his wife Snigdha Singh had land illegally entered in their names through dakhil-kharij (mutation entries).

The land, categorized as Gair Majrua Khas Jungle and treated as deemed forest, falls under the category of protected land as per Supreme Court and High Court orders.

Links to Former Hazaribagh DC’s Tenure

The scam reportedly took place during the tenure of Vinay Choubey as Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribagh. The ACB probe indicated Singh’s direct involvement as a beneficiary buyer, confirming his alleged role in the misappropriation of government land worth crores.

Officials believe the arrest could lead to the exposure of more land scam cases in Hazaribagh, involving misuse of government land and irregularities in forest land classification.