1997 historic IAF airstrip land fraud in Ferozepur resurfaces: Woman, son duo booked
Ferozepur, June 2, 2025: In a startling revelation nearly three decades after the crime, Ferozepur police have booked a woman and her son for fraudulently selling a historic Indian Air Force airstrip in connivance with revenue officials.
According to police, Usha Ansal and her son Naveen Chand Ansal of Dumni Wala village illegally sold the IAF airstrip land, located in Fattuwala village, back in 1997.
An inquiry report numbered 24526/22/SM-11 dated 20-06-2025 was received from the office of the Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab (Chandigarh Headquarters). This report revealed a fraudulent sale of defence land as per letter No. 145/2023 from the Ferozepur police and letter No. 519/2023 from the Ferozepur Vigilance Office.
According to the inquiry, Nishan Singh, son of Partap Singh, resident of Mohalla Kadian Wala, Ferozepur, lodged a complaint. Vigilance Inspector Jagdeep Kaur conducted the investigation at the Ferozepur Vigilance Office. The report confirmed that the land belonging to the Indian Air Force located in village Fattuwala, district Ferozepur — measuring approximately 4 acres — was fraudulently sold.
The land, acquired on 12.03.1945 during British rule for use in World War II, remained under the Indian Air Force's possession and had been used during the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars. Despite this, Usha Ansal, wife of the late Krishan Chand Ansal, along with her son Naveen Chand Ansal, deceitfully claimed ownership of the land and sold it.
This act was done in collusion with revenue officials, with forged records and fraudulent intentions. Based on the findings of this investigation, legal proceedings are being initiated to register a formal case.
The land came under scrutiny after a complaint was filed by whistleblower Nishan Singh, a retired revenue official (kanungo), who alleged serious irregularities in the land’s transfer. Following this, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Chief Director of the Vigilance Bureau to verify the claims.
A complaint had also been submitted earlier in 2021 by the commandant of the Halwara Air Force Station to the Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner, demanding a probe. After several delays, the High Court intervened and directed the DC to complete the investigation. Eventually, in May 2025, the land was restored to the Ministry of Defence.
An FIR has now been registered under Sections 419, 420, 465, 467, 471, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code against the accused. Further investigations are under way with DSP Karan Sharma to identify all those involved in this long-concealed scam involving strategic defence land.