In a significant legal development, Punjab Police have initiated action against a mother-son duo for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme that involved the sale of an Indian Air Force (IAF) airstrip located near the Pakistan border. The airstrip, situated in Fattuwala village of Ferozepur district, has historical importance, having been utilized by the IAF during critical conflicts such as the wars of 1962, 1965, and 1971.
The accused, identified as Usha Ansal and her son Naveen Chand Ansal—residents of Delhi—are suspected of collaborating with revenue officials to forge ownership documents, allowing them to sell the strategic land to private individuals in 1997. This fraudulent activity was largely concealed for decades until a whistle-blower, Nishan Singh, a retired revenue officer, stepped forward to expose it.
Despite Singh’s persistence in filing multiple complaints over the years, he claims that his efforts were largely overlooked by the authorities. His situation escalated when, in 2021, after the IAF’s Halwara Air Force Station filed a formal complaint without any resultant action, Singh appealed to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court’s intervention ultimately prompted the authorities to address the issue.
In his disclosures, Singh elaborated on the historical background of the land, stating that it originally belonged to Madan Mohan Lal, who relocated to Delhi prior to India’s independence. Following Lal’s passing in 1991, Singh alleges that local officials created fraudulent land records to facilitate its sale to private entities. He has accused certain revenue officers of repeatedly covering up the fraud for monetary gain.
A report compiled by the deputy commissioner reveals that revenue records dating back to 1958-59 explicitly indicated that the IAF was in possession of the airstrip. In light of these findings, a formal complaint has been lodged against Usha and Naveen Ansal at the Kulgarhi Police Station.
Significantly, the land has now been officially restored to the Ministry of Defence as of May 2025. Authorities are continuing their investigation to unravel the full scope of the conspiracy and determine the identities of all individuals involved in this extensive cover-up that spanned decades.
