ACB chargesheets officials in land scam, ration fraud cases

Srinagar, Jan 31: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu on Saturday produced charge-sheets in two separate cases before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Jammu—one related to the illegal transfer of over 196 kanals of state land in Nagrota and another involving fraudulent issuance of ration to 188 non-existent BPL/AAY families in village Khandwal, Jammu.
In a statement, the ACB spokesperson said Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jammu on Saturday produced charge-sheets in two cases before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Jammu regarding illegal transfer of huge chunk of state land situated in Nagrota in favour of beneficiaries and issuance of ration in favour of non-existent BPL/AAY families in village Khandwal Jammu respectively.
The statement reads, charge-sheet in case FIR No. 09/2020 u/s 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K PC Act, 2006 and section 120-B RPC pertaining to the illegal transfer of state land situated in villages Jagti, Nagrota, Dung, Marh and Sitni of Tehsil Nagrota, District Jammu in favour of beneficiaries, in violation of Govt.
“Orders No. LB-6/C of 1958 and S-432 of 1966 was produced before the court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Jammu against the accused persons, namely, Rajesh Kumar, then Incharge Tehsildar Nagrota, Riaz Ahmed, then Incharge Patwari Halqa Jagti Nagrota along with other 31 beneficiaries.”
It reads, the case pertains to the period 2016 to 2018, during which the then Tehsildar Nagrota, Rajesh Kumar, and Patwari Halqa Jagti, Riaz Ahmed, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy, dishonestly conferred proprietary (ownership) rights over State land in favour of private individuals, who were in illegal occupation of the same.
“Investigations conducted by ACB Jammu revealed that the accused public servants, in connivance with the illegal occupants/beneficiaries, fraudulently invoked Government Notifications LB-6/C of 1958 and S-432 of 1966, while willfully violating the mandatory conditions and safeguards prescribed under the said notifications,” the statement reads.
It reads, as a result, State land measuring 196 Kanal and 10 Marla was illegally transferred to private individuals through 18 unauthorized mutations, the present market value of which is more than rupees 22 crores. These illegal acts resulted in wrongful loss to the State exchequer and corresponding unlawful gain to the beneficiaries, thereby depriving the Government of valuable State land.
“After completion of a thorough investigation, the Anti-Corruption Bureau found sufficient evidence establishing the commission of offences by the accused public servants and private beneficiaries. Accordingly, a charge-sheet has been filed today before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Jammu, which further transferred the same to the Court of Addl. Sessions Judge, Anti-Corruption, Jammu for judicial determination.”
The statement further reads, charge-sheet in case FIR No. 16/2011 u/s 5(1)(c)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K PC Act, 2006 and sections 409, 120-B RPC pertaining to the issuance of ration to 188 non-existent BPL/AAY families in village Khandwal, Jammu was produced before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Anti-corruption, Jammu against accused persons, namely, Bhajan Singh, then Tehsil Supply officer (TSO), Jammu. (2) Miraj-U-Din, then Assistant Director, CA&PD, Rural Jammu. (3) Mohd Rashid, then Patwari Halqa Khandwal, (4) Paramdeep Singh, then Sarpanch Panchyat Khandwal, (5) Dhrub Singh, then Panch village Khandwal, (6) Harbans Lal, then Ration Dealer Panchyat Khandwal (now expired), (7) Balbir Singh, then Panch village Khandwal (now expired), (8) Romesh Singh, then Nambardar village Khandwal (now expired) and (9) Ami Chand, then Chowkidar village Khandwal (now expired).
“The instant case came to be registered at P/S VOJ (now ACB) on 10-08-2011, on the basis of a verification conducted by this bureau, into the allegations that in the year, 2004 then Tehsil Supply officer (TSO), Bhajan Singh and others, in connivance with Harbans Lal and others, dishonestly processed and recommended the application of Harbans Lal to higher officers of CA&PD Department, Jammu for his appointment as Dealer in the said area without proper verification of families mentioned in the list, which contained non-existent BPL/AAY families, thereby facilitating the appointment of Harbans Lal as Dealer.”
“Verification has further revealed that from the year, 2004 to 2010 on the basis of said list of beneficiaries, CA&PD Officers/Officials from time to time without verification of the said list kept on issuing subsidized ration to 165 and 66 families under BPL/AAY categories respectively of village Khandwal to ration Dealer Sh. Harbans Lal, out of which during verification only 26 and 17 families respectively under BPL/AAY categories were found genuine and 139 families under BPL category and 49 families under AAY category i.e., total 188 families under BPL/AAY categories were found non-existent,” the statement reads.
It reads, during this period, approximately 1852.19 quintals wheat/Atta and 1564.72 quintals Rice under BPL quota, 586 quintals wheat/Atta and 601.6 quintals Rice under AAY category was found issued to the non-existent families by the Officers/Officials of CA&PD Department, Jammu through the Ration Dealer Sh. Harbans Lal and 498.05 quintals approximately of excess sugar was also found issued to the said dealer during the period (2007-2010). In this manner, Bhajan Singh then TSO and others Officers/Officials of CA&PD Department, Jammu, by abuse of their official position and in pursuance to a conspiracy hatched with the ration Dealer of Village Khandwal Sh. Harbans Lal and others, misappropriated the ration meant for BPL/AAY families, causing a huge loss amounting to Rs 30,33,326.05 to the State Exchequer, for their pecuniary advantages as the said ration carries a huge subsidy provided by the Government.”
“After the completion of investigation of the case as Proved, charge-sheet has been produced against the said above named accused persons for judicial determination,” reads the statement further. (KNO)