At whose behest is The New Indian hiding full details of Nalin Prabhat’s immovable property return?

Targeting Nalin Prabhat over asset ownership amid Pahalgam attack is misleading narrative

A popular news gathering platform, The New Indian, published a report titled ‘Before Pahalgam, J&K DGP on buying spree: A Rs 10.3 cr Manali home in Dec 2024; Rs 26.2 cr Chandigarh bungalow in 2023’[1]. At first glance, the headline appears to insinuate a connection between Jammu & Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat’s property acquisitions and the tragic Pahalgam terror incident.

However, upon closer scrutiny, it becomes evident that this attempt to conflate two unrelated matters is not only misleading but irresponsible.

A review of the Immovable Property Return (IPR) filed by Nalin Prabhat on January 14, 2024, clearly reveals that he purchased House No. 77, Sector 5, Chandigarh, for Rs.26.25 crore (inclusive of Rs.1.25 crore stamp duty) from Sudhir Dhingra and family on 29/11/2023. The property deal was conducted transparently, with MHA approval granted via e-file No. 3677472 dated 26 Dec 2023 and formally communicated through DIG Pers Dte Gen CRPF letter No. R VII 69824/2023 Pers DA 7, dated 29 Dec 2023.

Importantly, the funds used for the purchase were sourced from advances received from M/S SVRAJ Ultra Infra LLP (via Vijay Bansal) against the sale of ancestral agricultural land declared in IPR entries 3, 6, and 10.

In a follow-up IPR dated January 14, 2025, now as DGP J&K Police, Prabhat submitted that an additional Rs.1.80 crore was sanctioned by the MHA for renovations. Later, a revised sanction increased this figure to Rs.3.80 crore, as per UO No. 24000/147/99 IPS II(e) and letter dated 10 Nov 2024.

The article by The New Indian conveniently omits these vital facts. Despite attaching images of the IPR, it cropped critical sections to mask full disclosures.

At the time of the Chandigarh purchase, Nalin Prabhat served as Additional DG, CRPF. On April 20, 2024, he was appointed DG of the National Security Guard (NSG) — a position that would have required multi-agency clearance.

If this property acquisition had been improper, it is inconceivable that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet would have cleared him for such a high-profile posting.

The report also mentions the Manali property purchased in December 2024 — 8 bighas of unirrigated agricultural land in Phathi Baruah Kothi, Manali tehsil, Kullu district. Valued at Rs.9.6 crore with stamp duty and fees totaling Rs.95 lakh, the transaction was formally completed on December 16, 2024. Prabhat, however, had already informed the MHA about this transaction on November 22, 2024.

Once again, full disclosure and prior intimation were maintained in line with service rules.

The attempt to connect these legitimate, MHA-sanctioned property transactions with the Pahalgam terror attack (which occurred in 2025, after both purchases) is both baseless and in poor taste. There is no correlation — direct or indirect — between his personal property dealings and any operational lapse.

Many civil servants with inherited land in rapidly urbanizing regions like Zirakpur and tourist hubs like Manali have lawfully sold these holdings for significant amounts. This is not uncommon, unethical, or illegal. The real estate values in these regions have risen dramatically over the last decade.

At a time when J&K Police, under DGP Prabhat’s leadership, is conducting critical counterterror operations, such speculative reporting only serves to undermine morale and distract the public from real issues.

The need of the hour is to support those on the frontline, not target them with insinuations disguised as journalism.

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

Reference:

[1] Before Pahalgam, J&K DGP on buying spree: A Rs 10.3 cr Manali home in Dec 2024; Rs 26.2 cr Chandigarh bungalow in 2023 – Apr 29, 2025, The New Indian

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