Hanumangarh MLA Ganeshraj Bansal faces fresh FIR in land dispute; CID-CB to probe
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Independent Hanumangarh MLA Ganeshraj Bansal has been named in a fresh FIR over a long-running dispute involving three auctioned plots in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, with the CID-CB set to take over the investigation given that the accused is a sitting legislator. The case was registered following a police inquiry into a complaint filed by advocate Harbans Singh Chandi.
Background of the Land Dispute
The complaint centres on plots H-39, H-40 and H-41, which were originally purchased through an auction held on 3 November 1995. According to Chandi's complaint, plot H-39 was registered in his own name, while plots H-40 and H-41 were registered in the name of his wife, Saranpal Kaur.
Chandi alleged that Bansal arrived at the disputed plots in 2024 at night, accompanied by several associates. According to the complaint, the group allegedly demolished a boundary wall, broke the lock of a room to forcibly enter the property, and issued threats against the complainant.
How the FIR Was Registered
Following a formal inquiry, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Hanumangarh Circle, ordered registration of the FIR after finding a prima facie case. The FIR has been registered under eight sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — specifically Sections 308(2), 329(4), 331(6), 324(4), 324(5), 191(2), 191(3) and 190.
During the inquiry, police recorded statements from the complainant and witnesses Pawan Kumar and Kanhaiya. Relevant records, orders, and documents pertaining to the three plots were also collected from the Municipal Council and examined alongside witness testimony.
Why CID-CB Will Take Over
Under departmental provisions, cases involving sitting legislators are transferred to the CID-CB (Crime Investigation Department – Crime Branch) for investigation. The original inquiry report and a copy of the FIR are to be forwarded to the CID-CB headquarters in Jaipur through the Superintendent of Police, Hanumangarh. Officials have clarified that the allegations in the FIR have not been established in a court of law, and the CID-CB investigation will determine the factual and evidentiary aspects of the case.
Bansal's Recent Legal Troubles
This fresh FIR comes close on the heels of another legal setback for the Independent MLA. Just days earlier, Bansal faced CID-CB action in a separate, 23-year-old case related to alleged irregularities in land leases issued by the Hanumangarh Municipal Council in 2003. He was arrested in that matter on 20 September and was subsequently granted bail by a district and sessions court on 26 September. The new FIR represents a second simultaneous legal challenge for Bansal as the CID-CB prepares to examine the fresh allegations.
What Happens Next
With two separate CID-CB probes now running concurrently, the Independent MLA faces mounting legal pressure. The investigation into the land dispute will determine whether the prima facie findings graduate into a formal chargesheet. The outcome could have significant implications for Bansal's legislative standing and the broader scrutiny of land transactions linked to elected officials in Rajasthan.