Bokaro deputy commissioner R.M. Ray has ordered a fresh probe into the alleged land grab on the foothills of Satanpur Pahadi in Bandhgora, setting aside the report submitted recently by the Chas SDO whose findings have turned the ongoing controversy murkier.

"The SDO's report was not satisfactory. So, I have handed over the inquiry to senior additional collector Jugnu Minz. He has been asked to file his report in a month," said Ray.

Following the directive, Minz has formed a high-level committee, headed by himself, which on Tuesday started taking fresh measurements of the disputed 48-acre expanse, where over 400 houses, bungalows and apartments have come up in the past 10 years.

It is widely believed that these homes were built on forest land sold illegally over the years to a host of influential people, including politicians, police officers and even journalists.

But, the probe, conducted by Chas SDO Manju Swansi at the behest of chief minister Raghubar Das, suggested that forest officials had claimed that the 48 acres in question did not belong to the forest department.

Two Bokaro district forest officials, including forest officer V.K. Kumar, apparently told the SDO that the land belonged to Bokaro Steel.

This is a complete turnaround from what the forest department, then represented by DFO Arvind Manish, had claimed in September 2014 when he insisted the 48 acres had been grabbed by land sharks.

Bokaro Steel, however, has denied that the said 48 acres belonged to the PSU, prompting the DC to ask Minz to look into the matter again. Subsequently, the administration also removed all encroachments from the area to take fresh measurement.

"I want the truth to come out - whether it is forest land, gair majarua, tribal land or government land. Cooperatives as well as individuals, who have build their houses on the disputed land, were asked to submit all documents, but none has come forward yet, hinting at fishy land deals," Minz told The Telegraph.

Several housing colonies, with names like Adarsh Cooperative, Manmohan Co-operative and Bari Co-operative, have come up on the land after the 900-feet-high Satanpur Pahadi, some 2km from Bokaro steel city, was flattened to facilitate construction.

In fact, as many as 16 FIRs were lodged at Sector XII police station in September 2014 by the forest department, alleging land grab. However, no action was taken.

The case was revived when Bandhgora panchayat residents, led by "tree man" Jagdish Mahto, met the chief minister in Bokaro on February 14 after which he ordered an inquiry.