ACB uncovers land trust scam in Jammu district

Jammu, September 11: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Jammu on Wednesday unearthed another major land fraud, in which around “310 kanals of custodial land in Asarwan, Mishriwala and Bhalwal areas of Jammu district have been seized by the land mafia in connivance with the officials and officers of the custodian, revenue and police departments.”

Earlier, the ACB had uncovered a land fraud involving approximately 210 kanals of management land, for which 5 FIRs had been registered.

An ACB spokesperson said, “Continuing its tirade against the unholy nexus of revenue officials and land mafia, the J&K Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) scored yet another major success by exposing a land fraud. Inputs were received that land of the trustee in thousands of kanals situated in Asarwan, Mishriwala and Bhalwal Jammu, was fraudulently grabbed by land grabbers and gangsters in connivance with the revenue department and policemen and officials. The revenue records were manipulated and land was sold to various persons.”

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 procured from several PoK refugees, using which they were enticed to acquire additional land and through land grabbers they were able to get instant cash ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000.

Thereafter, additions or additions were made in respect of additional tracts of administered lands in the tax administration by the officials and officers of the tax and administration departments, through sheer abuse of their official positions. These lands were sold by the conduits and lawyers to various persons, including their gang leaders and members, by using fraudulent means, causing huge loss to the government, the spokesman said.

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

During the investigation, after the Special Anti-Corruption Judge in Jammu issued search warrants, search teams comprising ACB officials, independent witnesses and magistrates were sent to about a dozen locations in Jammu and adjoining areas.

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