KD News Service
Srinagar, Feb 27: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has presented a chargesheet against the then Executive Officer of the Municipal Committee Kupwara, a Khilafwarzi Inspector, and a private beneficiary for allegedly granting illegal building permissions and facilitating encroachment on government-acquired land meant for the construction and expansion of the bus stand at Regipora in Kupwara.
According to the ACB, a complaint was received alleging that municipal land acquired by the government for the Kupwara bus stand—compensation for which had already been paid—was unlawfully used for private construction. Acting on the complaint, the ACB conducted a Joint Surprise Check (JSC), which revealed serious irregularities in the grant of building permissions.
The probe found that Bashir Ahmad Dar, then Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Kupwara, sanctioned two building permissions in favour of Ghulam Mohammad Mir for the construction of a double-storey shopping complex at Bus Adda Regipora. Investigators said the permissions were issued without following due process and without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Town Planning Organisation, in violation of the Jammu and Kashmir Control of Building Operation Act, 1988.
The land in question—measuring one kanal and 16 marlas under Khasra No. 661—had already been notified and acquired for a public purpose, namely the bus stand project. The ACB said once land is acquired, it vests with the government, and private individuals cease to have legal title or the right to seek building permissions.
Investigations further revealed that previous executive officers had repeatedly declined the same building permission due to legal impediments, which were clearly recorded in official files, note sheets, and joint inspection reports. Despite this, the accused allegedly proceeded to approve the construction.
The ACB stated that the illegal permissions caused a loss of ₹57,37,500 to the state exchequer and jeopardised the future prospects of the Regipora bus stand project by prioritising private interest over public interest.
After completion of the investigation in FIR No. 14/2022, a chargesheet was filed against Bashir Ahmad Dar, Mohammad Abdullah Malik (then Khilafwarzi Inspector), and Ghulam Mohammad Mir before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla. The court has fixed April 18, 2026, as the next date of hearing.
