Srinagar, Aug 19 (NVI): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against several officials and beneficiaries in connection with alleged illegal construction, encroachment of state land and other violations in the Rajbagh area of Srinagar, officials said on Wednesday.
The case was registered following a joint surprise check and subsequent verification into allegations of construction of a multi-storey building in the flood basin and fringe area of the Jhelum river at Rajbagh, the ACB said in a statement.
The verification found alleged irregularities in the grant and subsequent modification of building permissions, including a substantial increase in the plinth area and height of the structure without obtaining mandatory no-objection certificates from the concerned departments, it said.
The probe also found alleged encroachment of around 2.9 kanals of state/Kahcharai land besides construction over drainage infrastructure and within the prohibited river-fringe area, the anti-graft agency said.
Those booked include then Senior Town Planner, Srinagar Development Authority, Muneer Ahmad Khan; then Joint Commissioner Planning, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, R K Tutoo; then In-charge Assistant Town Planner, SMC, Ulfat Jan; other concerned officials; and beneficiaries Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh and Parveena Akhter.
The accused have been booked for alleged abuse of official position, criminal conspiracy and facilitating unauthorised construction and encroachment.
The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code, besides other applicable provisions, the ACB said.
Further investigation is underway, it added.(NVI)
