Supreme Court-Appointed SIT Begins Investigation of Noida Land Compensation Irregularities

The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has commenced its probe into the alleged Noida land compensation irregularities. The team collected documents from the Noida Authority office in Sector 6 as part of its inquiry into irregular compensation payments. The investigation follows the Supreme Court’s order on January 23, 2025, calling for an in-depth examination of payments made to ineligible individuals.

Scope of the Investigation

The primary objective of the SIT is to determine whether compensation was awarded beyond the amounts stipulated in court rulings. The team will also investigate whether officials from the Noida Authority were involved in unauthorised payments and if there was any collusion between these officials and beneficiaries. Additionally, the SIT will evaluate whether the overall functioning of the authority lacked transparency and accountability.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, constituted the three-member SIT from a list provided by the Uttar Pradesh Additional Advocate General. The team includes:

• SB Shiradkar, Additional General of Police, Lucknow Zone
• Modak Rajesh D Rao, Inspector General, Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department, Lucknow
• Hemant Kutiyal, Commandant, UP Special Range Security Battalion, Gautam Buddh Nagar

The SIT has been given two months to complete its investigation and submit a report to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover.

Background of the Case

The investigation was triggered by a case involving the Noida Authority’s legal advisor Dinesh Kumar Singh and law officer Virendra Singh Nagar. Both were booked in 2021 for allegedly approving fraudulent compensation claims, leading to unauthorised payments amounting to ₹7.26 crore. Their bail plea was heard by the Supreme Court, which observed that the issue was not an isolated incident but indicative of a broader pattern of excessive compensation payments.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court stated that the entire Noida Authority setup appeared to be involved. Given the scale of the alleged irregularities, the court deemed it necessary to refer the matter to an independent agency for a thorough probe. The SIT was subsequently formed to uncover the truth behind these transactions.

Legal Safeguards for Farmers

The Supreme Court has ruled that no coercive or penal action should be taken against landowners who received the disputed compensation without prior permission from the court. This ensures that farmers who may have been unaware of the irregularities are not unfairly penalised.

The case highlights concerns over land acquisition and compensation processes in Noida, where allegations of inflated compensation claims and unauthorised payments have persisted. The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the need for greater oversight in land transactions and the functioning of government authorities.

Next Steps

As part of its investigation, the SIT will review compensation records to determine whether excessive payments were made beyond court-approved amounts. It will assess the role of Noida Authority officials in facilitating unauthorized payments and investigate potential collusion between officials and beneficiaries in processing fraudulent claims. Additionally, the SIT will evaluate transparency measures, identifying gaps in the compensation process and recommending improvements to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The SIT’s report, due in two months, is expected to provide clarity on the extent of the alleged fraud and determine accountability. The outcome of this probe will be closely monitored by stakeholders, including government agencies, real estate developers, and landowners affected by the compensation process.