IAF airstrip fraud: FIR filed against mother-son duo for selling wartime defence land in 1997

A first information report (FIR) has been filed against a mother-son duo from Punjab who have been accused of illegally selling an Indian Air Force (IAF) airstrip using forged documents with the help of revenue officials.

The airstrip is located in Fattuwala village of Ferozepur district, just a few kilometres away from the Pakistan border, and was fraudulently sold in 1997, reported The Times of India (TOI).

The IAF airstrip played a key role in three wars against Pakistan in 1962, 1965 and 1971. The airstrip was originally acquired by British authorities on March 12, 1945, for use during World War II and remained in the possession of the IAF.

Despite its strategic importance, it was secretly sold off 28 years ago by Usha Ansal and her son Naveen Chand, residents of Dumni Wala village, who allegedly forged revenue records to show false ownership, as per TOI.

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FIR filed following court-ordered vigilance probe 

An FIR was registered on June 20, after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) to investigate the allegations.

Justice Harjit Singh Brar, while hearing a petition filed by whistleblower Nishan Singh who is a retired revenue officer, criticised the Ferozepur district administration for years of inaction and called the matter a serious threat to national security.

The case has been filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating), 465 and 467 (forgery), 471 (use of forged documents) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy). DSP Karan Sharma is leading the probe to identify all individuals involved in the cover-up, reported TOI.

Forgery timeline and fake land transfers 

According to the VB report, Usha and Naveen falsely claimed the land was owned by Madan Mohan Lal, who had died in 1991. Despite this, the duo allegedly executed sale deeds in 1997.

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By 2009-10, several individuals including Surjit Kaur, Manjit Kaur, Mukhtiar Singh, Jagir Singh, Dara Singh, Ramesh Kant and Rakesh Kant, were recorded as owners in the Jamabandi (land record) even though the Ministry of Defence had never given up control.

Years of delay despite complaints 

Whistleblower Nishan Singh filed the original complaint in 2021, but no significant action was taken.

Even a formal letter from the Commandant of Halwara Air Force Station to the Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner calling for an inquiry failed to prompt a response, stated the TOI report.

Only after the matter was escalated to the high court, the probe was ordered. The land was finally restored to the Defence Ministry in May 2025, nearly three decades after the fraudulent sale.