Alleged Land Scam: High Court issues issues notices to ED and PCA on the petition filed by former Ranji player
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh 18 Aug
The controversy surrounding land transactions and alleged financial irregularities in the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has now reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Hearing a petition filed by former first-class Ranji player Rakesh Handa, the court has issued a 'Notice of Motion' to all key respondents, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and PCA management, seeking their response by September 18, 2026.
The petitioner alleges that land in Bathinda (18.5 acres / 100 kanals 10 marlas) and Amritsar (19.5 acres) was purchased by the PCA management at exorbitant prices by bypassing rules and financial approvals. According to the petition, land purchased from farmers at approximately ₹15 lakh per acre was sold to the PCA within a few months at a price of ₹2.99 crore per acre. Proper approval from the Governing Body or the AGM, which is mandatory for financial allocation and the procurement process, was not obtained.
It was also alleged that Handa's membership was illegally suspended and later terminated on May 21, 2026, to dismiss the complaint on technical grounds. Handa, who represented the Punjab Ranji team from 1978 to 1982 and served for 20 years in the Customs and Central Excise Department, also had his monthly player pension withheld. The petitioner demanded an independent investigation by the CBI and ED into the Bathinda and Amritsar land deals. The next hearing of the case will take place on September 18, 2026.