The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has registered a high-profile corruption case against Maeen Azhar Kakroo, the former Tehsildar of South Srinagar, for allegedly abusing his official position to demand and accept “illegal gratification” in a land-related matter.
The Investigation and FIR
The Bureau registered FIR No. 03/2026 at Police Station ACB Srinagar under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The case originated from a detailed verification following a complaint regarding bribery linked to the restoration and demarcation of land in 2021.
The probe revealed that Kakroo allegedly demanded a bribe to facilitate the restoration of 14 marlas of land at Gulbahar Colony, Hyderpora (Sector-14), Srinagar. This land was part of a larger parcel measuring over 4 kanals under Survey No. 998/54.
Bribe Paid via Luxury Car & Paytm
In a notable detail, the investigation uncovered that the “illegal gratification” was not just cash. Kakroo allegedly accepted a second-hand Mahindra Rexton 4×4 (Registration No. MH03CP-5000) as a bribe. The transaction was tracked through the complainant’s Paytm account linked to J&K Bank Batamaloo, which was used to make payments for the vehicle.
The land in question was subsequently sold by the complainant in January 2022 to a private purchaser following the “facilitated” restoration.
Simultaneous Raids in Srinagar and Baramulla
Immediately after registering the FIR, ACB teams, supported by local police and headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), conducted simultaneous searches at two residential properties:
- Kanil Bagh, Azad Road, Baramulla (Residential house)
- Rose Avenue Colony, Gazalla Abad, HMT Srinagar (Residential house)
During these raids, officials seized “incriminating material,” including revenue records, financial papers, and banking documents, which are now being treated as vital evidence.
Current Status of the Accused
Maeen Azhar Kakroo is currently posted as Tehsildar Khansahab in Budgam district, also holding additional charge of Khag. It is noteworthy that he was originally appointed on compassionate grounds during the tenure of former CM Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, after his father—a PDP block president—was killed by unidentified gunmen.
The investigation is ongoing as the ACB examines the seized documents to uncover further irregularities.