The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday registered a corruption case against a former Tehsildar of Bijbehara and several others over the alleged illegal attestation of 162 land mutations involving around 1,050 kanals of land. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
According to an ACB statement, the case has been registered against the then Tehsildar of Bijbehara, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, the then Naib Tehsildar, Fayaz Ahmad Wani, the concerned Patwari, Ghulam Nabi Banday, and others for their alleged role in the fraudulent attestation of land mutations between 2022 and 2024.
The case was registered following a source-based complaint alleging that the officials, along with others, illegally approved land mutations without registered transfer deeds and without collecting the required registration fees and stamp duty, causing a significant loss to the State exchequer.
The ACB said its verification, supported by reports from the Departmental Vigilance Officer (Revenue), inquiry committees, and expert opinion, found serious violations of revenue laws and Standing Order 23-A.
The investigation also revealed that the so-called relinquishment deeds were allegedly used to hide actual land sale transactions in an attempt to avoid registration charges and stamp duty. Officials further alleged that money was transferred through intermediaries and multiple bank accounts to conceal the transactions.
Based on the evidence collected, the ACB said 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 of the Indian Penal Code against the accused officials and others.
Soon after the FIR was registered, ACB teams carried out simultaneous searches at the residences of the accused after obtaining search warrants from the Special Judge, ACB, Anantnag. Officials said further investigation into the case is underway.