Manoj Bajpayee’s Land Purchase in Almora to Face Scrutiny Amid Tightening of Land Laws

Did Manoj Bajpayee violate Uttarakhand land law? Investigation is ongoing

The process of implementing strict land laws in Uttarakhand has gained more speed. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had already ordered that a list of land purchased by outsiders in the state be made and action be taken against those violating the land law. Due to this, the land purchased by famous actor Manoj Bajpayee in Lamgara block of Almora is being investigated, in which violation of land law has been found.

While the Uttarakhand government is considering making a stringent law to protect agricultural land from acquisition by outsiders, Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee has become the second celebrity after UP leader Raja Bhaiya’s wife whose property in Almora is under investigation.

Bought land in Almora

Manoj Bajpayee had bought land worth crores in Lamgada block in 2021, but now it has come to light that this purchase was not done according to the standards of land law of Uttarakhand. In this case, the district administration said that it is necessary to take permission from the state government and the court before taking any action.

Land acquisition cases have come up earlier too

Earlier too, violation of law was found in cases related to land purchase in Uttarakhand. Violation of law was also found in the case of land purchase by an industrialist in Chitai area, after which the administration declared the purchase of that land invalid and confiscated the land.

Statement of DM Alok Pandey

Almora DM Alok Pandey has said that investigations are underway into Manoj Bajpayee’s acquisition and several similar cases. In recent weeks, Uttarakhand has launched a campaign to enforce strict land use laws, especially in ecologically sensitive areas. Chief Minister Dhami had issued orders on September 27 to strictly enforce the land law in the state. According to him, outsiders outside municipal body areas will be banned from purchasing more than 250 square meters of land without permission.

Investigation into Manoj Bajpayee’s land intensifies

The state government is now trying to find out whether Manoj Bajpayee’s acquisition is following the local land rules. In 2021, Manoj had purchased land measuring about 15 acres i.e. 2,160 square feet in Kapkot for the development of a meditation and yoga center. However, locals raised concerns and said that no construction has taken place.