Gujarat Dy CM Harsh Sanghavi to return 500+ vigha land documents to Rajkot farmers on Oct 15
Synopsis
Hundreds of Rajkot farmers trapped in debt-driven land fraud are set to get their documents back on 15 October, when Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi hands over titles to 500-plus vighas recovered by an SIT. The same event will mark Rajkot as Gujarat's first ISO-certified district police and spotlight a rural suicide-prevention initiative that has counselled 700 people.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi will return land documents covering more than 500 vighas to farmers in Rajkot district on 15 October 2026 .
Rajkot Rural Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate alleged fraudulent land transactions and recover seized documents with help from the Sub-Registrar's Office .
Accused persons allegedly took possession of farmers' land through fraud, trapping them in debt and high-interest payment cycles.
Rajkot has been identified as the first district in Gujarat to receive the ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification for its police stations.
A report on 'Prerna: Nava Jivan Ni' , a Rajkot Rural Police suicide-prevention initiative that has counselled around 700 people , will also be released at the event.
The programme will also include the inauguration of the new SDPO office in Shapar .
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi will on 15 October 2026 hand back land documents covering more than 500 vighas, worth crores of rupees, to farmers in Rajkot district after the Rajkot Rural Police recovered them through a dedicated investigation into alleged fraudulent land transactions. The restitution marks a significant outcome for farmers who reportedly lost possession of their land and documents through deceptive means.
How the Land Was Taken
According to police, the accused allegedly seized farmers' land and documents through fraudulent methods, trapping the original owners in a cycle of debt and high-interest payments. The scale of the fraud — spanning more than 500 vighas — underscores how organised the alleged network was. Rajkot Rural Police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) specifically to probe these cases and recover the land.
How the Documents Were Recovered
Working in coordination with the Sub-Registrar's Office, the police administration traced and reclaimed the documents from the accused. The recovered papers will be formally returned to the affected farmers by Sanghavi at a programme scheduled in Rajkot on 15 October. Officials say the operation demonstrates the state's commitment to protecting agrarian land rights against organised fraud.
Other Key Developments at the Programme
The event will also see Sanghavi inaugurate the newly constructed office of the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of the Rajkot Rural Division in Shapar. The new facility is designed to strengthen policing and law-and-order management across Rajkot city, nearby industrial corridors, rural zones, and fast-developing localities in the region.
Additionally, the ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification will be presented to all police stations, branches, and offices under the Rajkot Rural Police District. Rajkot has reportedly been identified as the first district in Gujarat to receive this certification, which recognises standards in work processes, cleanliness, record management, and transparency.
Suicide Prevention Initiative Report
The programme will also feature the release of a report on 'Prerna: Nava Jivan Ni', a suicide-prevention initiative launched by the Rajkot Rural Police. Under this programme, around 700 people have received counselling and support to help them cope with suicidal thoughts. Officials describe the initiative as a model for community-based mental health intervention by a district police force. The multi-event programme — combining land restitution, infrastructure launch, quality certification, and a mental health report — signals a deliberate effort by the state administration to project Gujarat's rural policing as both reform-driven and community-oriented.
Point of View
Debt is engineered, and ownership is quietly transferred — is a well-documented pattern across Gujarat's peri-urban and rural districts. The SIT's recovery of 500-plus vighas in Rajkot is a tangible result, but it also raises a harder question: how many such cases remain undetected where no SIT was formed? The ISO 9001:2015 certification for Rajkot Rural Police is symbolically significant, but quality management systems are only as meaningful as the grievance redressal they produce. The real measure will be whether the certification translates into faster response times for fraud victims — not just cleaner filing rooms.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi returning land documents to Rajkot farmers?
Harsh Sanghavi is returning land documents covering more than 500 vighas to farmers in Rajkot because Rajkot Rural Police recovered them after an SIT investigation into alleged fraudulent land transactions. Accused persons had allegedly seized the land and documents through deceptive means, trapping farmers in debt.
How did Rajkot Rural Police recover the land documents?
The police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the fraud cases. Working with the Sub-Registrar's Office, the SIT traced and recovered the documents from the accused persons.
What is the ISO 9001:2015 certification being given to Rajkot Rural Police?
ISO 9001:2015 is an international quality management system standard. Rajkot Rural Police is reportedly the first district police force in Gujarat to receive this certification, recognising standards in work processes, record management, cleanliness, and transparency.
What is the 'Prerna: Nava Jivan Ni' initiative launched by Rajkot Rural Police?
'Prerna: Nava Jivan Ni' is a suicide-prevention initiative by Rajkot Rural Police that has provided counselling and support to around 700 people to help them cope with suicidal thoughts. A report on the initiative will be released at the 15 October programme.
What else will happen at the 15 October programme in Rajkot?
Apart from the land document handover, Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi will inaugurate the new SDPO office in Shapar, oversee the ISO 9001:2015 certification presentation to all Rajkot Rural Police stations, and release the report on the 'Prerna: Nava Jivan Ni' suicide-prevention initiative.
