Madhya Pradesh official suspended over illegal land allotments scam

A revenue official in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh, has been suspended following allegations that he illegally registered 51 land parcels from village commons in his own name and that of his wife. The official, identified as Rajesh Mandloi, a patwari or village-level revenue clerk, allegedly carried out the fraudulent registrations in Kolgaon village under the state's Swamitva Yojana—a property rights scheme aimed at documenting land ownership.

The district collector's office initiated action against Mandloi after the irregularities came to light, resulting in his immediate suspension from duties. According to officials, the patwari abused his administrative position to appropriate common village lands that should have remained under community control or been distributed through proper channels.

Investigations revealed that Mandloi's illicit activities extended beyond land parcels. He is also accused of illegally taking control of a community well (baoli) that serves the village. The well, a critical water resource, was similarly registered under his family's name contrary to established protocols.

The Swamitva Yojana, designed to provide property documentation and ownership certificates to citizens, has faced implementation challenges in several states. This incident in Khandwa highlights concerns about oversight mechanisms and the potential for local officials to exploit their administrative authority for personal gain. Authorities said further investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud and to initiate recovery proceedings for the illegally appropriated assets.