The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth ₹13.89 crore in the NH-74 excess compensation scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The action was taken by the Dehradun Sub Zonal Office.
With this provisional attachment, the total value of assets attached in the case has reached ₹57.77 crore.
Background of the NH-74 Excess Compensation Case
The NH-74 case relates to alleged irregularities in land acquisition for widening National Highway-74 in Uttarakhand. The investigation originates from an FIR registered at Police Station Pantnagar in Udham Singh Nagar district under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.
According to the ED, several individuals allegedly manipulated land records during the acquisition process to claim compensation at inflated rates.
Alleged Modus Operandi in the NH-74 Scam
Backdated Orders Under Section 143
The ED investigation identified that Dilbagh Singh, Jarnail Singh (son of Sunder Singh), Baljeet Kaur (wife of Pratap Singh), and Dalvinder Singh (son of Pratap Singh) allegedly secured backdated orders under Section 143 of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950.
Section 143 permits the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural use under specified conditions. The ED states that these orders were fraudulently obtained and subsequently entered into revenue records in alleged connivance with revenue officials and intermediaries.
Compensation Claimed at Non-Agricultural Rates
Based on the alleged backdated entries, the accused reportedly claimed land acquisition compensation at non-agricultural rates instead of agricultural rates.
This reclassification allegedly resulted in wrongful receipt of ₹26.02 crore as excess compensation. The ED asserts that this caused significant financial loss to the government and generated unlawful gains for the accused.
ED Action Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
Following the FIR, the ED initiated a money laundering investigation under the PMLA, 2002 to identify and attach the “proceeds of crime” (PoC).
Alleged Use of Proceeds of Crime
The ED investigation revealed that the alleged proceeds of crime were:
- Invested in immovable properties
- Transferred across multiple bank accounts
- Routed through accounts of relatives
After tracing these funds, the ED issued a Provisional Attachment Order (PAO) attaching movable and immovable properties worth approximately ₹13.89 crore.
Total Attachments and Prosecution Status
The ED has issued three Provisional Attachment Orders in the NH-74 case so far. Additionally:
- Seven prosecution complaints have been filed
- Complaints were submitted before the Special Court under PMLA in Dehradun
- Total attached assets now stand at ₹57.77 crore
These actions form part of an ongoing enforcement process under the PMLA framework.
Ongoing Investigation
The NH-74 excess compensation investigation remains ongoing. The Enforcement Directorate has indicated that further attachments or legal proceedings may follow based on additional evidence.
The case highlights alleged manipulation of land classification during infrastructure acquisition and demonstrates the application of anti-money laundering provisions in cases involving public funds.
Source: ED Press Release dated 18/02/2026 regarding NH-74 Land Compensation Scam