As expected, the Himachal Pradesh Relief and Rehabilitation Department on Friday took possession of the land of controversial Asaram Bapu trust at Kunja Matralion village in the Paonta area of Sirmaur district.
Officials, while confirming the development, stated that Relief and Rehabilitation Department has taken over the 14.33 bighas of land. Officials said that the operation to take over the land and property was done peacefully as no-one resist the department’s move.
Officials stated that the property was initially owned by the Government of India and was purchased in an auction by one Jaikishan and Rajinder of Paonta in 1994 and later it was transferred through a gift deed in the name of the trust owned by Asaram Bapu. However, during the review of the whole auction and registration process, department found that the then Naib Tehsildar of Paonta, who had auctioned the land, was not authorised to do so, he added and consequently, the transfer of land was rejected and it was again reverted to its original owner, the Government of India.
