Local Sessions Court has issued warrants against an Ahmedabad-based industrialist and two state revenue officers on a petition accusing them of illegally procuring agricultural land.

Additional Principal Sessions Judge P B Desai has issued the warrants to prosecute them under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code.

The petition has been filed by one Pankaj Patel, a resident of Hathijan village of Daskroi taluka in Ahmedabad. In his complaint, Pankaj has named industrialist Bhogilal Kansara, and Ajitsinh Zala and Sanabhai Patel (talati-cum-mantri and circle inspector of the concerned block of Revenue Department respectively).

According to the complainant, Kansara had bought around six acres of his ancestral land in Hathijan village from his father in 1984 by deceitfully procuring the status of farmer in connivance with the two revenue officers.

“Had we knew about Kansara getting the farmer status deceitfully, we would not have sold off the land to him,” said Pankaj in the complaint.

Following the complaint, the court had ordered the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to submit an inquiry report. In its report, the ACB said there was a prima facie case against the accused. Based on this, the court had issued warrants against the three, which was returnable on July 1.

The warrant was, however, served only to Kansara, who appeared before the court on July 1. Further hearing on the matter has been scheduled for July 20, so that the warrants get served to the other accused.

Vinod Brahmbhatt, counsel of the complainant, said, “Pankaj has also filed a suit in the office of the district collector to get the land bought by Kansara back in his name.”