Jammu, May 21: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has registered a case against several officers and officials, including those from the Enforcement Wing, the then Chief Town Planner, the then Vice Chairman of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), and the beneficiary Hilal Ahmad Rather.
The case, FIR No. 06/2024, has been lodged under section 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K PC Act Samvat 2006 and section 120-B RPC, based on allegations of illegally approving the construction of an IT Park, the ACB said in a statement issued here.
According to the ACB, the investigation revealed that the JDA had granted backdated approval for the construction of an IT Park for Hilal Rather, despite knowing that there was no provision to regulate such illegal construction. “The Building Operations Controlling Authority (BOCA) of JDA had approved the site plan for a three-story building with the stipulation that it would be used exclusively for IT purposes. However, after obtaining the necessary NOCs, Rather constructed a five-story building with an additional porch in front, which was in violation of the sanctioned plan. Furthermore, Rather violated the rear setback requirements by constructing a ground-plus-one structure at the rear of the building,” it revealed.
The verification process disclosed that the involved officers and officials from the Enforcement Wing, the then Chief Town Planner, and the then Vice Chairman of JDA, in criminal conspiracy with Hilal Ahmad Rather, failed to enforce regulations and remained silent on the violations. Their negligence and abuse of official positions allowed Rather to proceed with the illegal construction, causing a wrongful loss to the government exchequer, the statement said.
The actions of these officials and the beneficiary constitute offences punishable under section 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K PC Act Samvat 2006 and section 120-B RPC, the ACB said, adding that it has initiated further investigations into the case to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and any additional violations.
