Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jul 17: The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir on Thursday said to have conducted searches at multiple locations in Srinagar and Budgam districts and registered an FIR against seven individuals in a land fraud case.
They said that among the accused persons, one is a former Tehsildar, who is ‘allegedly involved in a land fraud case’ related to cheating, corruption and tampering with revenue records.
In a press conference held today at Crime Branch headquarters in Srinagar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Crime Branch Abdul Wahid Shah said that the agency has booked the accused in connection with fraudulent land deals in Balhama area.
He said the complaint was filed by a woman, who alleged she was deceived by the accused, who manipulated khasra numbers in the sale deeds and carried out false mutations in connivance with revenue officials.
The SSP said the complainant stated she had purchased 5 kanals and 4 marlas of land from one Mohammad Shafi Lone alias Shafi Cheeni for Rs 88.4 lakh and also exchanged 2 kanals of land in Gooripora Rawalpora.
“After the accused took back the original sale deeds for ‘record updation,’ they returned them with forged khasra numbers,” he said, adding that later, part of the land was forcibly occupied by another individual claiming it had been sold to him.
The SSP added that during the preliminary investigation, Crime Branch Kashmir found that the sale deeds had been tampered with to reflect incorrect survey numbers.
He added the then Tehsildar and Patwari of Balhama had allegedly facilitated these changes to confer illegal ownership to one of the accused, Riyaz Ahmad Bhat. “The accused named in FIR No. 14/2025 registered at Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir include: Nusrat Aziz, the then Tehsildar Balhama; Ashiq Ali, the then Patwari Balhama; Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, resident of Nowgam Srinagar; Mohammad Shafi Lone alias Shafi Cheeni, resident of Peerbagh; Shamima Akhter, wife of Shafi Lone; Shahnawaz Ahmad Rather, resident of Padshahi Bagh; and Shabir Ahmad Wani, resident of Bagander Lasjan,” said the SSP.
He added the case has been registered under sections 167, 120-B RPC read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. SSP Shah also said that searches were underway at seven locations in both Srinagar and Budgam following search warrants issued by the competent court.
He further added that Tehsildar Nusrat Aziz is already facing trial in another case (FIR No. 08/2021) for similar charges including forgery, cheating and corruption.
“This indicates that the individuals involved may be part of an organized network deceiving innocent land buyers in Srinagar and adjoining areas,” the SSP said. Meanwhile, authorities said more arrests and legal action could follow as investigations progress.
