ACB unearths major land scam in Jammu

Srinagar, Jun 14: J&K Anti Corruption Bureau achieved a major success by unearthing major land scams in Jammu and Kashmir after custodian land in Asarwan, Mishriwala and Bhalwal area of Jammu district was found usurped by the land mafia in connivance with officers and officials of Custodian, revenue department and police.
In a statement, it said after obtaining the search warrants from the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu, search teams comprising ACB officers, Independent Witnesses, Magistrates were deputed to sixteen locations throughout Jammu and its adjoining areas which are still going on.
ACB said that inputs were received that Custodian land in thousands of Kanal situated at Asarwan, Mishriwala and Bhalwal Jammu has been fraudulently grabbed by the land grabbers/gangsters in connivance with the Revenue and police officers/officials. “The revenue records have been tempered and land has been sold to various persons,” it said.
During a formal verification by the ACB, it said they found that in furtherance of the criminal conspiracy, FORM 3-A (Form Alf) along with power of attorneys (POAs) were obtained from various POK Refugees, alluring them of additional lands and providing them instant money ranging from 5000 to 50,000 by the conduits of land grabbers.
“Thereafter insertions/additions regarding additional chunks of custodian lands were made in the revenue records by the officials/officers of the Revenue and Custodian department, by sheer abuse of their official positions. These lands were sold by the conduits and attorney holders to various persons including their own gang leaders and members, by resorting to fraudulent means, thereby causing a huge loss to the government,” it added.
The ACB said that owning to the establishment of prima facie nexus of the criminal elements, land grabbers and Revenue/Custodian officers/officials in alienation of Custodian land through fraudulent means, a case has been registered 5 formal case FIRs in P/s Central J&K for investigation under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and fraud.
“In addition to 5 FIRs registered, verification is still in progress to unearth the remaining usurped custodian land by land mafia in connivance with officers and officials of Revenue, Police and Custodian department,” it added.