Baba Ramdev bought forest land in Aravalli, how true is this claim?

Baba Ramdev, Co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved, has been making headlines recently, not for his yoga postures or herbal concoctions, but for his real estate acquisitions. Reports have surfaced alleging that Ramdev has been acquiring vast tracts of land in the Aravalli region through shell companies.

The Aravalli range, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, is not just a geographical marvel but also a hotspot for real estate developers due to its proximity to major cities. However, the region is also ecologically sensitive, and its protection is crucial for maintaining the ecological balance.

According to a report by The Reporters’ Collective, Ramdev has acquired lands worth hundreds of crores of rupees through his shell companies in various states, including the ecologically sensitive Aravalli region.

The Patanjali group acquired the land through companies controlled by Acharya Balkrishna and some of their associated land dealers. The group bypassed restrictions and purchased the land quietly.

Aravalli land deal

According to the report, Baba Ramdev's Patanjali group has acquired more than 400 acres of forested common land in the Aravalli hills of Faridabad, Haryana. The land was acquired through companies controlled by Acharya Balkrishna and some land dealers

• Baba Ramdev founder of Patanjali Ayurved, a company that produces herbal and ayurvedic products. He also owns several other companies, such as Vedic Broadcasting Ltd (VBL), which runs TV channels like Aastha and Vedic.
• In 2017, VBL bought 96 acres of land in Kot village of Sohna tehsil in Gurugram district, Haryana, for Rs 22.5 crore. The land is part of the Aravalli hills, which are protected under the Forest Conservation Act and the Punjab Land Preservation Act. The land was sold to VBL at a much lower price than the market value, which was estimated to be around Rs 100 crore.
• The land deal violated several environmental and revenue laws, such as the following:
  • The land was transferred to VBL without the consent of the gram sabha, which is mandatory for any sale of common land in rural areas.
  • The land was classified as gair mumkin pahar (uncultivable hill), which cannot be used for any non-forest purpose without the permission of the forest department and the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
  • The land was meant for developing a yoga and wellness centre, but no such project has been started so far. Instead, the land has been fenced off and guarded by private security personnel.
  • The land falls under the natural conservation zone (NCZ), where construction is prohibited or restricted as per the regional plan of the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB).

Other land acquisitions

The report also reveals that Ramdev has acquired lands in other states, such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Assam, through his shell companies. These companies include VBL, Bharat Swabhiman Trust, Divya Yog Mandir Trust, Patanjali Gramodyog Trust, Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, and Patanjali Bio Research Institute.

Baba Ramdev's Patanjali group acquired over 400 acres of forested common land in the Aravalli hills of Haryana's Faridabad district. The transactions took place between 2014 and 2016

The report claims that these companies have no clear business activity, and are used to evade taxes and hide the ownership of the lands.

Patanjali Group acquired over 400 acres of common land in the Aravalli region in Faridabad district between 2014 and 2016. The land was classified as shamlat deh, which means it belongs to the village community. The Supreme Court had ordered in 2011 that all common land should be returned to the panchayats. However, Patanjali Group used a company called Herbo Ved Gram, which was owned by Ramdev’s associate Acharya Balkrishna, to buy the land through a real estate agent who had power of attorney agreements with the landowners.

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