Srinagar, Jul 09 (KNO): The J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday registered a case against former Bijbehara Tehsildar and others over the alleged illegal attestation of 162 land mutations involving around 1,050 kanals, causing loss to the State exchequer.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau registered a case against the then Tehsildar Bijbehara Ghulam Rasool Bhat, the then Naib Tehsildar Bijbehara Fayaz Ahmad Wani, the concerned Patwari Ghulam Nabi Banday and others for their alleged involvement in the fraudulent attestation of 162 land mutations in Tehsil Bijbehara during the year 2022-2024 for land measuring 1050 Kanals.
He said the case originated from a source-based complaint alleging that the accused officials, in connivance with others, illegally attested mutations involving about 1,050 kanals of land without execution of registered transfer deeds and without payment of the prescribed registration fee and stamp duty, causing substantial loss to the State exchequer.
“Verification conducted by ACB, supported by reports of the Departmental Vigilance Officer (Revenue), departmental inquiry committees and expert opinion, revealed gross violations of revenue laws and Standing Order 23-A. The verification further disclosed that the purported relinquishment deeds were actually sale transactions disguised to evade registration and stamp duty, while money was allegedly routed through intermediaries and multiple bank accounts to conceal the transactions.”
The spokesperson said on the basis of the material collected, a prima facie case of abuse of official position, criminal conspiracy and criminal misconduct has been established. Accordingly, FIR No. 06/2026 has been registered at Police Station ACB, Anantnag, under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 120-B IPC against the accused officials and others.
He said immediately upon registration of FIR, simultaneous searches were conducted at the respective residential houses of the accused persons after obtaining search warrants from the Court of the Special Judge, ACB, Anantnag. Further investigation of the case is in progress—(KNO)