NRI plot grab: Canada-Based NRI Alleges Sarpanch’s Son Grabbed His Plot in Punjab

NRI plot grab: A Canada-based NRI has filed an FIR alleging illegal construction on his registered plot in New Sunny Enclave, Kharar. Police have booked the son of a local sarpanch.

North Desk Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 5

In a case of alleged land grab involving an NRI, a Canada-based NRI has alleged that his registered plot in Sector 123, New Sunny Enclave, Kharar, was illegally occupied and built upon in his absence, with police in SAS Nagar registering an FIR against a local resident recently.

The complainant, Sanjiv Narang, and a resident of Canada, stated in his complaint to the NRI Affairs Wing of Punjab Police that he had purchased Plot No. 341, measuring 250 square yards, in New Sunny Enclave from Bajwa Developers Ltd., with the registry completed over 11 years ago. 

According to the FIR, the case was taken up following the complaint routed through the Director General of Police, NRI Affairs Wing, based on a written complaint.

NRI plot grab: Cases of absentee NRI landowners finding their properties encroached upon or illegally occupied are a recurring complaint category handled by Punjab Police’s dedicated NRI Affairs Wing, which was set up specifically to address grievances from overseas Punjabis unable to monitor their assets in the state directly.

Land and plot disputes involving NRIs, ranging from unauthorised construction to disputed possession by local occupants, have remained one of the more persistent friction points between the diaspora and property markets back home, often surfacing only when the owner visits after a long gap, as in this case.

READ ALSO: Why Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj Has ‘Disappeared’; Here’s what Khalra Film Shows

NRI plot grab: Someone else doing construction

In his complaint on NRI plot grab, Narang said he paid ₹4 lakh to Bajwa Developers Ltd. in March 2023 towards obtaining a No Objection Certificate and had the plot demarcated in preparation for residential construction. He stated that as of 2023, the plot remained vacant, but during a visit on December 2, 2025, he found construction work underway on the site by someone else.

Narang alleged that when he questioned labourers working at the site, he was told the construction was being carried out on the instructions of one Daljit Singh, described to him as a local sarpanch.  

NRI plot grab: The complainant stated that he holds the registry, jamabandi, a recently obtained No Objection Certificate, and possession and allotment documents for the plot, and had submitted photographs of the ongoing construction along with his complaint. He termed the construction “illegal and fraudulent” and sought police action against those responsible.

The FIR has been registered last month under Section 329(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which pertains to house-trespass. Assistant Sub-Inspector Surjit Singh (7/119 IRB) has been directed to investigate the matter.

North Desk has separately reported on a visa fraud FIR registered at the same NRI Affairs Wing police station involving a UK-based complainant — part of a wider pattern of grievances from overseas Punjabis being routed through this dedicated wing.

The allegations in the FIR are based solely on the complainant’s statement and are yet to be established through investigation.  

READ ALSO: Seerat Kaur Murder Case: Life Term for Husband’s Suitcase Murder in Mohali

Follow North Desk on WhatsApp for the latest from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7ccdxJENy2H87DBG3E