Srinagar, May 17: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has registered a case against a retired Tehsildar, a Patwari and private beneficiaries in Rajouri district in a land transfer scam.
The ACB in a statement issued here said it has registered a case (FIR No. 02/2024) at Police Station ACB Rajouri under sections 5(1)(d) read with section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and section 120-B RPC. The case involves Balwant Singh, then Tehsildar Rajouri (now retired), Mohd Rafiq, then Patwari Rehtal, and private beneficiaries Kanwal Singh and Masood Anwar.
The case stems from a written complaint alleging that Balwant Singh, in conspiracy with Kanwal Singh and others, passed an order on March 25, 2010, in mutation No. 417 of village Rehtal, Rajouri, the bureau said, adding that this order declared Kanwal Singh as Tenant-at-will under Government Order No. LB-06/C of 1958, excluding other legal heirs of Late Brij Lal.
Verification revealed that Balwant Singh and Mohd. Rafiq illegally transferred land to the beneficiaries by recording and attesting mutations No. 417 and No. 419 under LB-06/C of 1958 and S-432 of 1966, respectively, on March 25, 2010. These mutations involved land measuring 3 kanals under Khasra No. 203, 1 kanal 9 marlas under Khasra No. 204, and 19 marlas under Khasra No. 201, totalling 5 kanals 8 marlas, all in favour of Kanwal Singh, thereby ignoring the rights of Brij Lal.
Similarly, mutation Nos. 415/1 under LB-6/C of 1958 and 415/2 under S-432 of 1966, also dated March 25, 2010, were found to be recorded and attested in favour of Masood Anwar for land measuring 5 marlas at Rehtal, violating the conditions laid down in the relevant government orders. “The beneficiaries were not in continuous possession of the said land since 1957-58, a prerequisite for attesting these mutations. Discrepancies were found between entries in Parat Sarkar and Parat Patwar of mutation No. 415/1 under LB-6/C of 1958,” the ACB said.
These actions by the revenue officers and officials, in criminal conspiracy with the beneficiaries, conferred undue benefits upon the latter for pecuniary gains. This constitutes offences punishable under sections 5(1)(d) read with section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and section 120-B RPC.
The accused include Balwant Singh, then Tehsildar Rajouri (now retired), S/O Shiv Ram R/O Badhal Tehsil Khwas District Rajouri, currently residing in Dogra Nagar, Durga Nagar, Jammu; Mohd Rafiq, then Patwari Rehtal (now Naib Tehsildar Kathua), S/O Gulab Din R/O Naghoon Tehsil, District Rajouri.
The beneficiaries include Kanwal Singh, S/O Bihari Lal R/O Choudary Nar Tehsil Rajouri (mutation No. 417 under LB-6/C & 419 under S-432), and Masood Anwar, S/O Mir Hussain Gujjar R/O Choudary Nar Tehsil, District Rajouri (mutation No. 415/1 under LB-6/C & 415/2 under S-432).
Further investigation is going on, the ACB said.
