Manoj Bajpayee's Almora Land Purchase Under Investigation Amid Uttarakhand's Push for Stricter Land Laws
The state of Uttarakhand is contemplating stricter regulations to protect agricultural land from being acquired by outsiders. In the midst of this, Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee’s land purchase in the Almora district has come under scrutiny. Bajpayee is the second prominent individual whose land acquisition in the region is being investigated. Prior to his case, an investigation was also launched concerning a land purchase by the wife of Uttar Pradesh politician Raja Bhaiya.
In 2021, Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee purchased a significant piece of land in the Lamgara block of Almora district, estimated to be worth crores of rupees. This land, approximately 15 nalis in size (one nali equals 2,160 square feet), was acquired in the Kapkot area with plans to develop a meditation and yoga center.
However, it has now come to light that the acquisition may not have followed the legal guidelines set by Uttarakhand's land laws. The District Magistrate has made it clear that anyone wishing to purchase land in the state must obtain prior approval from both the state government and the court. This rule has been reinforced after several other violations of land laws came to the forefront. A case involving an industrialist who illegally purchased land in the Chitai area led to the cancellation of the transaction, with the administration confiscating the land.
Almora’s District Magistrate, Alok Pandey, confirmed that Bajpayee’s land deal is currently under investigation, along with other similar cases that have come to light. In recent weeks, the Uttarakhand government has launched an initiative to enforce land use laws more strictly, particularly in environmentally sensitive regions. On September 27, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami issued orders to ensure the implementation of land laws across the state. These new guidelines stipulate that outsiders will not be allowed to purchase more than 250 square meters of land outside municipal limits without prior approval from the state government.
Bajpayee’s land acquisition in Almora involved the purchase of approximately 15 acres, with plans to develop a meditation and yoga center on the property. However, locals have raised questions, as no construction has taken place on the land so far. This has led to concerns about whether the land is being used according to local regulations.
The investigation is part of a broader effort by the Uttarakhand government to regulate land use across the state and prevent misuse, particularly by non-residents. Uttarakhand’s hilly and fragile terrain is highly sensitive to changes in land use, and unplanned development could disrupt local ecosystems, increase landslide risks, and threaten essential water sources. The government aims to protect these vulnerable areas and ensure that all land transactions adhere to state regulations.
The state government is currently evaluating whether Bajpayee's land purchase in Kapkot adheres to local land regulations.
