CAG: Stamp duty exemptions for industry misused

Jaipur: A CAG report flagged irregular exemptions in stamp duty and surcharge worth over Rs 1.05 crore in property registrations linked to industrial plots under Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS), 2019.The auditor, which examined records of 4 sub-registrar offices between Aug 2023 and March 2024, found 5 cases where buyers were granted 75%–100% stamp duty exemption for industrial plots but the land was sold for other purposes.
In 3 cases in Bhilwara and Neemrana, industrial plots allotted by RIICO through public auction were granted full stamp duty exemption. However, the allottees later sold the plots without establishing any industrial units.The audit said exemption of Rs 22.23 lakh granted in these cases was undue and recoverable along with interest.In another case in Jaipur, a company received full exemption of Rs 74.21 lakh for an industrial plot, which it later subdivided into 4 parts and sold them.The audit observed that the incentive, meant to promote industrial investment, was instead used for land trading.A case in Pali involved a sale deed that received a 75% exemption even though the industrial unit was already operational at the time of registration, making it ineligible for the benefit.The auditor said exemptions under the scheme are meant only for new investments or expansion projects and should be withdrawn if conditions are violated. In all, stamp duty and surcharge of Rs 1.05 crore, along with interest of about Rs 32 lakh, were found recoverable.Experts said the misuse can be curbed by linking stamp duty exemptions with strict monitoring of project implementation, preventing resale or subdivision of industrial plots for a fixed period, and ensuring better coordination between the industries department, RIICO, and the registration department before granting incentives.Officials also stressed the need for periodic verification of units to ensure that land allotted is actually used for manufacturing activities.