AIADMK demands CBI probe into alleged irregularities in land exchange at Auroville

CHENNAI: AIADMK MP and former law minister C Ve Shanmugam has called for a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the exchange of land by Auroville Foundation. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while responding to Shanmugam's representation, said the issue had been forwarded to the “department concerned” for action.

Shanmugam said Auroville Foundation exchanged land along national and state highways with high market value for land in remote areas with less market value, raising questions about the transparency and fairness of the transactions.

“The valuation of the exchanged land appears inconsistent with current market rates, potentially leading to losses for the foundation, which are estimated to exceed Rs 246 crore,” he said, while alleging violation of regulations and financial discrepancies in the exchange of land.

He regretted that the ministry did not take adequate action when the issue was raised in Parliament earlier.

“I am deeply troubled by the decision to forward complaints against the governing board of Auroville Foundation to the same board for examination and recommendation. This raises serious doubts about the impartiality and fairness of any internal inquiry,” Shanmugam said.

The ministry earlier said it received complaints of drug abuse and drug peddling, and cybercrimes, including data theft and data leak through servers based outside India in the township. It said there were complaints too of violation of immigration laws, circulation of ‘black’ money, money laundering, collection of donations without registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), and many more economic offences, besides irregularities in land exchanges.

Union minister of state for education Sukanta Majumdar revealed these complaints while furnishing a written reply to the queries posed by Villupuram VCK MP D Ravikumar in the Lok Sabha.

Auroville, founded in 1968, is an international township in the making dedicated to human unity. The township has more than 3,000 residents from more than 60 countries. Auroville is recognised by Unesco and the Union govt for its unique contribution to human progress.


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