J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau exposes massive land fraud, files 10 FIRs against tax officials, land mafia

Srinagar, Sep 11 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has launched a large-scale crackdown on corruption after it uncovered a large-scale land fraud in which around 310 kanals of administrative land were illegally acquired in Asarwan, Mishriwala and Bhalwal areas of Jammu.
According to a statement by the ACB, the scandal reveals an elaborate scheme involving collusion between the land mafia and officials of the Revenue, Custodian and Police Departments. Investigations have revealed that these officials, in collaboration with the land mafia, manipulated tax records and sold the land to various individuals, including members of their own network.
The fraudulent activity involved misuse of FORM 3-A (Form Alf) and Power of Attorney documents, which were obtained from refugees from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) under false promises of additional land and quick financial returns ranging from ?5,000 to ?50,000. These documents were then used to illegally transfer the custodian’s land. Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel
This latest discovery follows an earlier case in which the ACB uncovered illegal occupation of 210 kanals of Custodian land, leading to five FIRs. In response to the new evidence, the ACB has registered 10 FIRs under the Prevention of Corruption Act, including charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and fraud.
Search teams comprising ACB officials, independent witnesses and magistrates conducted searches at 12 locations in Jammu on the orders of the Special Anti-Corruption Court.
The ACB has vowed to continue its investigation, pending the discovery of additional land fraud as the investigation into the illegal occupation of Custodian lands progresses. This operation is a major step in dismantling the corrupt alliance between land mafia and government officials, with the aim of recovering the financial losses inflicted on the state. (KNS)