The property had changed hands only a few months back and reportedly involves a wealthy sitting MLA who invested his money but got a sale deed registered in the name of a cook working in a leading public school in Shimla.

The issue was raised in the House by former Congress minister Kaul Singh Thakur, who also hails from Mandi. He insisted that the Chief Minister consider his suggestion of taking over the property because of its heritage value and that the government use it.

Dhumal responded by saying, “The issue for a takeover will be considered by the government at an appropriate time as right now an inquiry is already going on into the controversial sale and evasion of stamp duty.”

Earlier, Revenue Minister Gulab Singh Thakur informed the House that an evasion of stamp duty to the tune of Rs 33 lakh had been detected in the registration of the sale deed. Three persons, including a revenue officer, who had registered the sale deed, have been arrested.

The actual value of the property was Rs 10.5 crore, but the sale deed in the name of three persons was registered only for Rs 23 lakh. However, when one of the buyers realised that he had committed a serious offence, he turned up and deposited more money. That’s how the case came to light, he added.

Earlier, on a question relating to implementation of NREGA in the state, raised by Roop Singh Thakur, Mohinder Singh and Inder Singh, all BJP MLAs, blamed the earlier Congress government for its “inability to utilise funds” sanctioned for the state.

But now, the BJP government had appointed 1,181 gram sewkas, 59 computer operators, 817 technical assistants and 42 JEs who will be helping in the effective implementation of the programme.