Land fraud case: EOW Kashmir conducts searches in Budgam

Srinagar, May 19: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday conducted house searches in the Semsaan area of Budgam in connection with an alleged Rs 93 lakh land fraud case involving purported fake land and tree sale agreements, officials said.
The searches were carried out as part of the investigation into FIR No. 17/2026 registered at Police Station EOW Kashmir under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 340 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to Crime Branch officials, the case pertains to an alleged fraud involving the inducement of a complainant into purchasing five kanals of migrant land at Drusu in Pulwama and 300 standing trees at Bijbehara through allegedly forged and fraudulent agreements.
The investigation, officials said, revolves around an alleged transaction amounting to Rs 93 lakh.
Authorities identified the accused as Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Dar, a resident of Jawalpora Budgam, and Soom Nath Koul, stated to be associated with Bangalore North in Karnataka and Janipur Jammu.
Officials said preliminary investigation revealed that one of the accused allegedly posed as an attorney holder of the original landowners, while another allegedly acted as a witness to the agreements.
The case assumes significance because the investigation reportedly found that neither the land nor the standing trees involved in the transaction belonged to the accused persons.
Crime Branch officials said the alleged fraud involved fabricated ownership claims and fake agreements used to convince the complainant to enter into the transaction.
In continuation of the investigation, the EOW Kashmir conducted house searches at Semsaan Budgam in the presence of Executive Magistrates.
Officials said the searches were aimed at collecting incriminating material, documentary evidence, and other items relevant to the ongoing investigation.
The presence of Executive Magistrates during the searches formed part of procedural safeguards associated with evidence collection in financial and fraud-related investigations.
Authorities did not immediately disclose details regarding the nature of material recovered during the raids.
Crime Branch officials said further investigation was underway to ascertain the complete scope of the alleged fraud, identify supporting evidence, and determine whether additional persons may have been involved.
The Economic Offences Wing has been pursuing multiple cases related to land fraud, forged property transactions, and financial deception across Kashmir in recent years. [KNT]