A major land dispute erupted in Himachal Pradesh’s Paonta Sahib after renowned wrestler The Great Khali and several women from Surajpur approached Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sirmaur Priyanka Verma, alleging illegal occupation and manipulation of land records.
The group submitted a detailed complaint, accusing certain individuals and revenue officials of attempting to seize 28-08 bigha of land that the complainants claim to have lived on for nearly five decades.
‘Attempts Made to Grab Land,’ Khali Tells Media
Speaking to reporters in Nahan, Khali recounted two major incidents in which, he said, unidentified individuals tried to forcibly enter the property.
- First incident: 20 May 2025
- Second incident: 18 July 2025
According to Khali, villagers and women present at the spot managed to stop both attempts. He alleged that these actions were carried out with the involvement of certain revenue staff who “misused their authority” to favor private parties.
The complainants said they possess all necessary land documents and urged the administration to protect their rights and ensure a transparent investigation.
Accusations of Revenue Record Manipulation
One of the strongest allegations made in the complaint centers around tampering with revenue records. Khali and the affected families claim that changes were attempted “without due legal process” and that the entire exercise was part of a broader conspiracy to illegally transfer possession.
The families warned that further attempts may continue if the administration does not intervene swiftly.
Tehsildar Rishabh Sharma Responds: ‘Allegations Are Baseless’
Officials Claim Khali Is Occupying the Wrong Land
Shortly after the allegations surfaced, Paonta Sahib Tehsildar Rishabh Sharma issued a detailed response, categorically denying the claims made by Khali and the complainants.
According to Sharma:
- The land Khali claims in Surajpur does not match the actual records of ownership.
- Khali purchased land under Khata Number 8, but allegedly took possession of an adjoining 38 bigha land under Khata Number 6.
- On 23 November 2025, a boundary wall was reportedly constructed on this land, allegedly in the presence of individuals from Punjab.
The Tehsildar emphasized that the matter was already heard in the Naib Tehsildar’s court, with a decision issued on 25 March 2025.
‘Get Demarcation Done, Not Media Pressure,’ Says Tehsildar
Sharma further said Khali neither applied for mutation nor requested land demarcation, which would have clarified ownership boundaries much earlier.
“Instead of making baseless allegations, The Great Khali should have requested land demarcation or provided a civil court stay order. Even today, he can get the land demarcated through any revenue official. That will settle everything transparently,” Sharma said.
He added that the revenue department has followed all legal procedures and called the pressure campaign “unjustified.”