Shivam Bakshi
Jammu, Nov 6 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against a former Naib Tehsildar, a Patwari and some private individuals for their alleged involvement in facilitating the wrongful occupation of State land in Gurha Brahmana village of Jammu district.
The case was registered following the outcome of Verification No. 02/2024, initiated on a complaint filed by Sohan Singh, the ACB said in an official statement.
The preliminary verification revealed that the accused public servants had allegedly misused their official positions and failed to discharge their duties in accordance with the law, thereby facilitating wrongful gain to private individuals and causing loss to the complainant as well as the State.
According to the complaint, Singh had purchased one kanal of land falling under Khasra No. 65-min through a registered sale deed dated January 17, 2005. The corresponding mutation was attested on February 18, 2005.
However, the verification revealed that the land actually handed over to and occupied by the complainant falls under Khasra No. 96, which is recorded as State land, instead of the land mentioned in the registered sale deed.
The ACB further found that the then Patwari Babu Ram and Naib Tehsildar Ram Lal Sharma allegedly acted in connivance with private individuals Chaman Lal and Ram Chand to facilitate the preparation and issuance of revenue documents on the basis of an unauthenticated Dasti Khaka, without properly verifying the original revenue records and the actual position of the land.
The investigation also revealed that the private individuals, through their respective attorney holders Ram Pal and Kasturi Lal, allegedly executed the sale deed and handed over possession of land falling under Khasra No. 96 instead of the land covered under Khasra No. 65-min.
A report submitted by the Tehsildar, Jammu North, on July 10, 2026, also confirmed that the complainant was not in possession of the land falling under Khasra No. 65-min but was occupying land under Khasra No. 96, which is recorded as State land, the ACB said.
Accordingly, the bureau registered a case under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and Sections 120-B, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the RPC.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, the statement said.—(NVI)
