MLA Kulwant Singh Attempting to Grab Village Papri Land Worth Crores with Panchayat Officials’ Collusion: Balbir Sidhu

Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu has levelled serious allegations against Mohali MLA and JLPL Managing Director Kulwant Singh, accusing him of attempting to acquire prime Panchayat land in village Papri at a highly undervalued rate through collusion with certain officials of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department.

Addressing a press conference today, Sidhu stated, “On February 16, 2017, JLPL obtained approval to purchase around 6 acres of Panchayat land in village Papri at a rate of Rs 3 crore per acre, significantly lower than the actual market value. Shockingly, the company took possession after paying just Rs 50 lakh, even though, as per the Panchayati Raj Act, full payment and registration are mandatory before possession can be transferred.”

Sidhu alleged that JLPL illegally occupied the land and proceeded with infrastructure development — constructing roads, laying sewer lines, and installing electricity poles — even as villagers opposed the move and legal proceedings stalled the registration for years. Now, according to Sidhu, some officials of the Panchayat Department are trying to register the land — now worth nearly Rs 150 crore — in JLPL’s name for just Rs 18 crore, using the outdated price fixed eight years ago. 

He pointed out that this move blatantly violates Rule 6(3A)(3) of the Punjab Land Registry Act, 1961, which mandates that prices fixed by the District Valuation Committee are valid only for six months and must be re-evaluated thereafter. Sidhu warned that this attempt to give JLPL an undue benefit of hundreds of crores would not be tolerated, and any official bypassing rules in public interest would be held personally accountable for legal consequences.

He further highlighted an earlier fraud case dated June 26, 2015, in which JLPL, in alleged connivance with the then Sarpanch Ajaib Singh, some Panchayat members, and department officials, transferred 15 kanal 8 marla of prime Panchayat land to the company in exchange for worthless land. Subsequent police and forensic investigations revealed that signatures of Panchayat members Gurjit Singh and Bachan Singh on the September 4, 2014 resolution and the December 9, 2014 general meeting were forged. 

In connection with this fraud, FIR No. 67 was registered on March 4, 2019 at Sohana Police Station under IPC sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, and 474.

Sidhu demanded that, in light of this proven fraud, the Panchayat resolution and all related proceedings be cancelled, and the 15 kanal 8 marla land be returned to the Panchayat immediately. The Congress leader appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to act in the spirit of his government’s claims of honesty and transparency, and order an impartial investigation into both these serious matters to protect public interest and uphold justice.