ACB uncovers another scam involving management of hundreds of channels in J&K

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- Continuing its tirade against the unholy nexus between revenue officials and land mafia, the J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has yet again registered a major success in busting the land fraud racket, with around 310 kanals of administrative land in Asarwan, Mishriwala and Bhalwal areas of Jammu district being seized by the land mafia in collaboration with the officials/officers of the administration, revenue and police departments.

Earlier, the ACB had uncovered a land fraud involving about 210 kanals of management land, for which five FIRs were registered.

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A statement said that information has been received that land in thousands of Kanal areas in Asarwan, Mishriwala and Bhalwal Jammu has been fraudulently taken away by land grabbers/gangsters in connivance with the revenue department and police officers/officials.

The tax administration has been manipulated and land has been sold to various individuals, the report said.

ACB conducted a formal investigation which revealed that in furtherance of the criminal conspiracy, FORM 3-A (Form Alf) along with Powers of Attorney (POAs) were obtained from several POK refugees, to lure them for additional lands and provide them immediate money ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 through the channels of land grabbers. Thereafter, additions/insertions in respect of additional tracts of administered lands were made in the revenue records by the officers/functionaries of Revenue and Administration Department, by sheer misuse of their official position. These lands were sold through the channels and power of attorney holders to various persons including their own gang leaders and members, by using fraudulent means, resulting in huge loss to the Government.

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“In view of the establishment of a prima facie nexus between criminal elements/land grabbers and the revenue authorities/custodians/officials in alienation of custodian land through fraudulent means, ACB has registered 10 formal FIRs with PS ACB Central for investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and fraud,” the report said.

During the investigation, after obtaining search warrants from the Ld. Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu, search teams comprising ACB officers, independent witnesses and magistrates were sent to about a dozen locations in Jammu and its adjoining areas, the statement said.

“Besides the 10 FIRs registered, verification is still underway to unearth the remaining seized managed lands that were seized by the land mafia in connivance with officials and officers of the revenue department, police and the administration department,” the statement said.

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