The Agricultural Land Reform Office (Alro) will examine land ownership documents of celebrities and businessmen who hold 50,000 rai of land in Nakhon Ratchasima province to ensure they obtained it legally.
Around 20,000 rai of Sor Por Kor 4-01 land for agricultural purposes along Thanarat Road in Pak Chong district was obtained unlawfully, said Alro secretary-general Sansern Ajjutamanas.
The other 30,000 rai on Khao Paeng Ma in Wang Nam Khieo district and in tambon Mu Si in Pak Chong district houses luxury resorts, golf courses and hotels, Mr Sansern said.
According to Alro, some land plots in Nakhon Ratchasima were put on sale by private firms or villagers, but many were only covered by Sor Kor 1 land title deeds, which only gives the right to use the land, not to sell it.
Some land owners mistakenly believed the government would revoke the Sor Por Kor documents issued for agricultural purpose and upgrade them to full title deeds, he said.
A Justice Ministry source said many resorts and houses on the disputed land are owned by former local politicians.
Several prominent figures, such as Channel 3 news anchors Sorayut Sutasanajinda and Kitti Singhapat, Channel 7 newscaster and sports commentator Pisanu Nilklad and businessman Vikrom Kromadit own plots of land in the area, the source said.
Their land documents — most of which were Nor Sor 3 Kor initially, which can later be upgraded to full title deeds — will be examined to check if they were issued lawfully, said the source.
Sorayut was found to have purchased his land from a real estate company, according to investigations, said Lt Col Kornthip Daroj, deputy director of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).
However, a further investigation into the upgrade of his Nor Sor 3 Kor documents must be carried out.
If the deeds were granted unlawfully, the land will be confiscated. Sorayut can then file a civil lawsuit against the company which sold him the land, Lt Col Kornthip said.
The owner of the Bonanza Resort, which was allegedly built on forest land in Khao Yai, also holds Nor Sor 3 Kor documents, and land officers in the province are now being investigated by the PACC over issuing unlawful deeds.
The crackdown on land encroachment comes after Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya instructed deputy permanent secretary for justice Dussadee Arayawuth to work with the PACC, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the 2nd Army Region and Pak Chong provincial police to examine any alleged encroachment on Kho Sied-Ar, Pa Khao Nok Yoong and Pa Khao Ang-Hin national forest reserves.
Villagers also called on the PACC to inspect several suspicious land plots at Khao Yai national park, saying the owners illegally acquired the land and built structures on it which obstruct public paths and waterways.
Meanwhile, provincial Alro chiefs are preparing for the inspection and seizure of more than 4 million rai of land from powerful businessmen, Mr Sansern said.
Mr Sansern said the Alro will launch the operation in cooperation with the 2nd Region Army after Songkran holiday.