The Himachal Pradesh government had marked the inquiry to Joint Secretary (Revenue) Rameshwer Sharma after it came to light that the Himachal Pradesh Land Reforms and Tenancy Act-1972 had been violated while granting sanction to purchase the land in question.

Justice Nirmal Yadav proceeded on leave after it was alleged that the money sent to Justice Nirmaljit Kaur’s residence by former Haryana Additional Advocate General Sanjeev Bansal was actually meant for her.

Sharma held a two-hour meeting with the tehsildar, naib tehsildar and other officials concerned and scrutinised documents pertaining to the execution of two sale deeds.

The statements of the naib tehsildar, registration clerk and other officials will be recorded after a thorough scrutiny of the records and a visit to the site where land had been purchased. Sharma took into his custody copies of the sale deeds and related documents.

Additional District Magistrate Rakhil Kahlon said Sharma visited her office too and discussed the case.

According to sources, Sharma also dwelt upon the genuineness of the addresses of all 18 buyers.

It is learnt that in a letter addressed to the Solan Deputy Commissioner, concerning the grant of permission to the buyers by the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), one of the purchasers, Suruchi, was shown as a resident of House No. 1142, Sector 7, Panchkula. Her address in the sale deed was, however, House No. 3, Sector 14, Gurgaon. The discrepancy has raised questions over the entire process.

Sources said Sharma inquired as to why the sale deeds were executed at a price much lower than the prevailing market rates. Besides, he verified whether the documents were in proper order or any irregularities had been committed by the buyers and the officials concerned.

The scrutiny was on till the filing of this report.