Srinagar, July 08: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has unearthed a major land scam involving usurpation of Custodian land in Bhalwal and Amb areas of Jammu district, officials said on Tuesday.
In a handout, the ACB said inputs were received that thousands of kanals of Custodian land situated at Asarwan, Mishriwala, Bhalwal and R.S. Pura were fraudulently grabbed by land grabbers in connivance with Form Alaf holders and revenue officers and officials. Revenue records were allegedly tampered with and the land was sold to various persons.
During verification, it was found that more than 1000 kanals of Custodian land was shown allotted to displaced persons on the basis of fake orders. The beneficiaries were otherwise not entitled to additional land. Based on this, ACB has so far registered 27 case FIRs and investigation is in progress.
In a fresh development, ACB has registered FIR No. 09/2026 at P/S ACB Central J&K under sections 7, 13(1)(a) & 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and sections 120-B, 420, 467, 468, 471 of IPC.
The case pertains to fraudulent alienation of about 12 kanals 03 marlas of Custodian land at Bhalwal. As per ACB, displaced persons of Pakistan/PoK were already allotted land, but their kith and kin, despite being Form Alaf holders and not entitled, got mutations of additional land attested in their favour either without any government/PRO order or on fake orders. No such allotment orders were issued by the office of the Provisional Rehabilitation Officer, verification revealed.
The accused named in the FIR include Altaf Hussain, then Patwari; Amjid Malik, then Girdawar; Aqeel Ahmad, then Naib Tehsildar Bhalwal; Mohan Singh; Rabina Kouser; and Nazir Hussain.
In another case, ACB registered FIR No. 10/2026 under sections 5(1)(c)(d) r/w 5(2) of J&K PC Act Svt. 2006 and section 120-B RPC following a complaint by Kuldeep Singh of Marjali Kangrail. The complaint alleged fraudulent mutations and illegal conferment of ownership rights over land at Village Amb, Tehsil Bhalwal.
Verification found that revenue officials, by abuse of official position and in criminal conspiracy with beneficiaries including Rashpal Singh, fraudulently attested mutations and illegally conferred ownership rights of around 15 kanals 08 marlas of land.
The accused in this case include Baldev Raj, then Patwari Halqa Village Amb; Pawan Kumar Kohli, then Naib Tehsildar; and Rashpal Singh, beneficiary, besides others.
ACB said further investigation in both cases has been taken up.
The bureau reiterated its commitment to crack down on the land mafia and corrupt officials involved in grabbing government land.
