Fourteen individuals, including TV journalist Avneesh Dixit, were arrested on Sunday for their involvement in illegally occupying government land worth over Rs 1,000 crore, police officials confirmed on Monday.
The arrests followed complaints filed by the revenue officer and Samuel Gurudev Singh, to whom the land was leased. The suspects, including Dixit, were allegedly involved in the illegal trespass and occupation of 7,500 square meters of state-owned land in the high-value Civil Lines area.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Harish Chandra stated that Dixit was taken into custody and an FIR was lodged at Kotwali police station. Police are now working to apprehend the remaining suspects linked to the land grab.
District Magistrate (DM) Rakesh Kumar Singh said the authorities took action after learning that Dixit and several others had unlawfully occupied the land, which had a market value exceeding Rs 1,000 crore. The group reportedly broke the locks on several rooms and replaced them with their own, further solidifying their control over the land.
Further investigations revealed that the land, classified as Nazul (state land), had been leased out in 1884 for a 99-year term, which was later extended for 25 more years. However, the lease had expired, leaving the land under state ownership, which Dixit and the others unlawfully seized.
A revenue team, led by the additional DM, confirmed that the land was state property, and efforts are underway to clear the encroachment and bring the accused to justice.