Authority: Supreme Court of India
Order Date: 24-08-2026
Case Overview
- Petition: Balbir (petitioner) filed Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No. 40910/2026 against Renuka Ji Dam Project HPPCL & others (respondents), seeking condonation of delay in filing.
- Origin: The petition arises from an impugned final judgment and order dated 01-03-2025 in RFA No.40/2019 and RP No.61/2025 passed by the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla.
- High Court Order (22‑08‑2022, RFA No.40/2019): Recorded acquisition of approximately 12,000 bighas of land belonging to poor claimants by HPPCL for the Renuka Ji Dam, with an estimated expenditure of about ₹2,500 crore on land acquisition. The order highlighted serious fraud allegations against Advocate P.S. Kanwar, who represented many claimants, and directed the registration of an FIR and the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Superintendent of Police, Sirmaur, assisted by DSPs of Dadahu, Rajgarh, and Sangrah, to investigate cheating, fraud, manipulation of records, involvement of touts, revenue officials, and unauthorized opening of claimants’ bank accounts.
- Subsequent Development: The Court observed that the SIT had not lodged any FIR concerning the alleged cheating/fraud and that no investigation report was on record regarding the role of the advocate, touts, or revenue officials.
Final Outcome
1. The Supreme Court condoned the delay in filing the petition.
2. The Court directed that a notice be issued to the respondents, with the matter returnable within eight weeks.
Topics: Court Proceedings, Land Acquisition, Fraud Investigation