Srinagar, July 09 (GNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau has registered a case against Ghulam Rasool Bhat, the then Tehsildar Bijbehara, and others for their alleged involvement in fraudulent attestation of 162 land mutations in Tehsil Bijbehara between 2022-2024 involving 1,050 kanals of land.

In a handout to GNS, the ACB said that the accused include the then Naib Tehsildar Bijbehara Fayaz Ahmad Wani, Patwari Ghulam Nabi Banday and others.

According to ACB, the case stems from a source-based complaint alleging that the officials, in connivance with others, illegally attested mutations without execution of registered transfer deeds and without payment of prescribed registration fee and stamp duty, causing substantial loss to the State exchequer.

Verification conducted by ACB, supported by reports of the Departmental Vigilance Officer (Revenue), departmental inquiry committees and expert opinion, revealed gross violations of revenue laws and Standing Order 23-A.

The verification further disclosed that the purported relinquishment deeds were actually sale transactions disguised to evade registration and stamp duty. Money was allegedly routed through intermediaries and multiple bank accounts to conceal the transactions.

On the basis of material collected, a prima facie case of abuse of official position, criminal conspiracy and criminal misconduct has been established. Accordingly, FIR No. 06/2026 has been registered at Police Station ACB, Anantnag, under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 120-B IPC against the accused officials and others.

Immediately after registration of the FIR, simultaneous searches were conducted at the residential houses of the accused persons after obtaining search warrants from the Hon’ble Court of the Special Judge, ACB, Anantnag.

Further investigation is in progress, reads the statement. (GNS)