More than 100 FIRs have been lodged with various police stations in Khargone, Dhar and Badwani districts after a preliminary inquiry proved that fake land deals were registered to get the second installment of compensation under the Special Rehabilitation Package (SRP).

The project-affected farmers had been paid the first installment and they could receive the remainder only after registering land deals. Eager to get the remaining money, farmers either on their own or with the help of a cartel of brokers and Government officials, submitted fake registration papers.

Now, the Government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the scandal that could not have thrived without the active involvement of officials. A special investigation team has been set up for the purpose.

The Government crackdown has sent ripples in the Narmada valley with brokers and several beneficiaries fleeing to avoid arrest. Two officials have been suspended and more suspensions are likely with the SIT expanding the scope of probe.

The SRP was mooted because the Government felt it did not have enough land. The package allowed farmers to buy land of their choice anywhere in the state from the first installment they received. The idea behind making the second installment conditional was to ensure that the farmer actually purchased land.

Divisional Commissioner (Indore) B P Singh told The Indian Express on Monday that the scandal could not have occurred without the involvement of officials from various departments. “We are verifying each and every land deal,” he said.

Narmada Valley Development Authority sources said as many as 2696 farmers had opted for SRP and they were paid compensation of Rs 150.28 crore. Though not all deals are fake, the Government wants to investigate all of them.

In Khargone alone, 98 FIRs have been lodged, while 16 have been lodged in Dhar. Several cases have also come to light from Badwani district. Some brokers have been taken into custody already.

Meanwhile, Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar said nothing less than a CBI inquiry would bring out the true picture because several departments were involved. She alleged that instead of punishing the officials, the Government was registering FIRs against farmers, some of whom were not even aware of the scandal.

Patkar said the SRP to be scrapped because it violated the basic “land for land” principle.

NBA’s Badwani-based activist Ashish Mandloi alleged that there were some cases of forgery too. He claimed the organisation had warned the Government and the Economic Offences Wing about the scandal long ago.

Patkar said she had taken up the matter with the Shunglu Committee when it visited project-affected farmers.