The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) an additional two months to wrap up its ongoing inquiry into allegations that Noida authorities sanctioned inflated compensation to landowners who were allegedly not eligible for such enhanced payouts.
The matter came up before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and NK Singh, during proceedings linked to the anticipatory bail plea of a Noida law officer.
The court had earlier ordered the SIT probe after serious concerns surfaced about irregular and disproportionate compensation awards.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Noida authorities, sought more time to file a counter affidavit.
The bench
was informed that the SIT had already submitted a status report and requested an extension to complete its work.
Observing that substantial time had already been granted, the CJI noted that while the SIT had asked for three more months, the court would allow only two.
He directed that the team should bring the investigation to its logical conclusion within this period.
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for a group of intervening farmers, pointed out that the protection earlier granted to them did not find mention in the court’s subsequent order constituting the new SIT.
The CJI assured him that the earlier protection would continue, but clarified that such protection would be subject to the finding that any overpayment received by farmers occurred by mistake rather than design.
He added that the SIT would have complete independence to examine all aspects of the case and place its findings before the court.
In its formal order, the bench recorded the SIT’s October 26, 2025, status report, acknowledged the progress made so far, and expressed hope that the investigation would be completed within the extended timeframe.
The interim directions protecting farmers will remain in force, and the Noida authorities have been permitted to file an additional affidavit.
The case has its roots in revelations earlier this year that prompted the court to order a detailed SIT probe.
In August, the previous SIT submitted a report flagging that landowners in 20 cases had been granted excessive compensation.
It also found that 1,198 cases received enhanced compensation despite court directives applying only to 1,167 cases.
The report identified officials allegedly involved in the 20 irregular cases and stressed the need for examination of bank accounts, family assets, and decade-old documents to determine possible collusion.
It even recommended involving a specialised agency adept in probing disproportionate asset matters.
The earlier SIT also raised broader concerns about Noida’s governance, noting that the authority operates more reactively than proactively, and that decision-making remains concentrated and opaque.
Its recommendations included establishing a metropolitan corporation, appointing a Chief Vigilance Officer, conducting periodic third-party audits, improving citizen engagement, and enforcing environmental impact assessments before project approvals.
Acting on these findings, the court in August directed the formation of a new SIT of three IPS officers with an expanded mandate to pursue deeper scrutiny, including potential criminal offences.
The fresh extension granted on Wednesday is expected to give the new SIT sufficient time to conclude its expanded investigation and place a comprehensive status report before the court.
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