ACB books officials, beneficiaries over illegal construction in Rajbagh

Srinagar, Aug 19: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday said it had registered an FIR against several officials and beneficiaries over alleged illegal construction, encroachment of State land and other violations in the Rajbagh area of Srinagar.
In a statement, a spokesperson said the ACB, Srinagar, had registered FIR No. 10/2026 following a Joint Surprise Check and subsequent verification into allegations of illegal construction of a multi-storey building in the flood basin/fringe area of River Jhelum at Rajbagh, Srinagar.
He said the verification revealed alleged violations in the grant and subsequent modification of building permissions, including a substantial increase in the plinth area and building height without obtaining mandatory NOCs from the concerned departments. It also revealed alleged encroachment of approximately 2.9 kanals of State/Kahcharai land and construction over drainage infrastructure and within the prohibited river-fringe area.
The spokesperson said the FIR names then Senior Town Planner, SDA, Muneer Ahmad Khan; then Joint Commissioner Planning, SMC, R.K. Tutoo; then In-charge Assistant Town Planner, SMC, Ulfat Jan; other concerned officials; and beneficiaries Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh and Parveena Akhter, alleging abuse of official position, criminal conspiracy and facilitation of unauthorized construction and encroachment.
He said the case has been registered under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act Svt-2006, Sections 447-A, 468 and 120 RPC, and other applicable provisions. Further investigation in the case is going on. (KNO)