A 92-year-old retired Indian Army Captain is facing a harrowing battle for justice in what he describes as his “fourth battle”—a fight against alleged land fraud that has deprived him of his agricultural property in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district. Captain Chunni Lal Thakur, a veteran of numerous conflicts including the 1962 war with China and the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, claims that his 25-bigha plot of land near Mohangarh was fraudulently mortgaged, transferred, and sold without his consent or knowledge.
Captain Thakur, currently residing in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, originally possessed fertile agricultural land that was acquired by the government for the construction of the Pong Dam. As a part of a rehabilitation scheme for displaced families, he was allotted barren land in Rajasthan. Over the years, with relentless hard work and investment, he transformed the arid desert into productive farmland, symbolizing resilience and dedication. He held original ownership documents of the property and received periodic returns from local cultivators who worked the land.
The shocking revelation of the fraudulent transaction emerged when the family was alerted by a tenant. Unidentified individuals are alleged to have constructed forged identity documents—including altered Aadhaar records—to execute the transfer using an impersonator, who posed as Captain Thakur. Reports suggest that the land was registered in another individual’s name on June 16, 2026, and sold for around ₹25 lakh, with subsequent misappropriation of the funds.
Captain Thakur expressed his profound dismay: “When I first arrived there, I found nothing but sand everywhere. After many hard years of labor, someone fraudulently sold my land. I fail to understand how such a thing could happen.”
After learning of the alleged fraud, Captain Thakur and his son, Multan Singh Thakur, traveled to Jaisalmer to address the matter with local authorities. They approached various police stations and revenue officials but were met with bureaucratic hurdles. Despite presenting evidence of impersonation, they received little assistance. It was only after persistent appeals, including a meeting with Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare, that an FIR was finally registered for fraud and related offences.
In a poignant reflection of his circumstances, Captain Thakur views this legal battle as an extension of his military service, emphasizing, “My father has fought three wars for the country, and this is the fourth war he is fighting to protect his land.” Given his advanced age and health condition, he has requested that the case be moved to Himachal Pradesh for easier access during legal proceedings.
The plight of this veteran has raised broader concerns about the vulnerabilities in land registration processes, particularly regarding inadequate verification standards that can facilitate fraud, specifically affecting individuals from vulnerable backgrounds, such as retired armed forces personnel.
As the investigation unfolds, Captain Thakur’s family remains steadfast in their quest for justice. They seek not only the return of the land but also to uphold the honor of a soldier who has served his country with distinction. As they face this relentless struggle, it serves as a stark reminder that, while some battles may end, the fight for justice is often just beginning.
