Fraudulent mutations, fake allotment orders and illegal transfer of government land under scanner; investigations expanded
Srinagar, July 8 (KNZ/TMJ): The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday unearthed another major Custodian land scam in Jammu district, registering two fresh FIRs against revenue officials, land grabbers, beneficiaries and their alleged conduits for fraudulently usurping government land through forged allotment orders, illegal mutations and tampered revenue records.
The Bureau said the latest action follows an extensive verification into the alleged illegal alienation of Custodian land in the Bhalwal and Amb areas of Jammu district, where officials and private individuals allegedly worked in concert to secure ownership rights over government land through fraudulent means.
According to the ACB, preliminary inputs had indicated that vast stretches of Custodian land in Asarwan, Mishriwala, Bhalwal and R.S. Pura had been illegally occupied after revenue records were manipulated and forged documents were used to facilitate the transfer of land to private persons.
The verification earlier conducted by the Bureau had revealed that more than 1,000 kanals of Custodian land had allegedly been shown as allotted to displaced persons on the strength of fake allotment orders, despite the beneficiaries being ineligible for additional land. Those findings had resulted in the registration of 27 FIRs, investigations into which are continuing.
During the latest verification, investigators found that several Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir refugee families, who had already received rehabilitation land, allegedly managed to obtain additional Custodian land without any valid government or Provisional Rehabilitation Office (PRO) sanction. The mutations were allegedly attested by revenue officials in violation of rules, after which the land was sold to various purchasers directly or through attorney holders and middlemen.
The ACB said the fraudulent transactions caused substantial loss to the government exchequer while enabling private individuals to derive illegal financial gains.
Based on the findings, the Bureau registered FIR No. 09/2026 at Police Station ACB Central, J&K under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code against three then revenue officials—including a Patwari, Girdawar and Naib Tehsildar—and three private individuals. The case pertains to the alleged fraudulent transfer of nearly 12 kanals and three marlas of Custodian land through criminal conspiracy, forgery and cheating.
In another case, the Bureau registered FIR No. 10/2026 following a complaint alleging fraudulent mutations and illegal conferment of ownership rights over around 15 kanals and eight marlas of land in Village Amb, Tehsil Bhalwal.
The verification found that revenue officials allegedly abused their official position and, in conspiracy with beneficiaries, fraudulently attested mutations conferring ownership rights over government land, resulting in wrongful loss to the public exchequer.
The second FIR names a former Patwari, a former Naib Tehsildar and a beneficiary, besides other accused, under relevant provisions of the erstwhile J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau said investigations in both cases have been taken up and the role of all accused, including public servants, beneficiaries and intermediaries, is being thoroughly examined. It added that further legal action would follow on the basis of evidence gathered during the investigation.(KNZ/TMJ)
