Supreme Court Hands Noida Land Compensation Probe to UP Vigilance Department
On Monday, the Supreme Court of India handed over the investigation into the alleged illegal payment of enhanced land compensation to landowners in Noida to the Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Department. The decision comes after a court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) uncovered prima facie evidence against three officials and recommended a deeper probe.
A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice K Vinod Chandran, ordered the state's vigilance wing to immediately take over the investigation of six First Information Reports (FIRs). These include three cases related to an alleged conspiracy involving officials and three concerning disproportionate assets.
With this order, the Supreme Court relieved the SIT of further responsibility in the case. The bench noted that the investigation requires a team of experts with experience in handling economic offences and financial crimes.
The SIT, which was constituted by the apex court in August 2025, submitted its final 700-page report in a sealed cover. The report examined the roles of 12 Noida Authority officials accused of facilitating illegal payouts. State representative advocate Ruchira Goel informed the court that three of these officials were found to be directly involved in skimming money from farmers on the pretext of releasing or increasing their compensation.
The investigation highlights cases such as those involving Noida legal officer Dinesh Kumar Singh and assistant legal officer Virender Singh Nagar. The duo allegedly sanctioned a compensation payment of ₹7.28 crore in a land acquisition case originally settled in 1993. The prosecution alleged that the officials falsely projected a dismissed claim as pending to release the funds under a 2015 Noida Authority policy.
To ensure a timely investigation, the Supreme Court ruled that any public-spirited citizen can approach the high court or the Supreme Court if there is an inordinate delay in completing the probe.
