ACB unearths evacuee land exchange scam in Srinagar, launches investigation

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has unearthed a major land scam involving the illegal exchange and manipulation of high-value evacuee property in Srinagar and has launched a formal criminal investigation into the matter.

According to officials, the preliminary probe has revealed serious irregularities and fraudulent acts allegedly committed by officials of the Revenue Department and the Custodian Evacuee Property Department, in active collusion with private individuals. The alleged actions were aimed at facilitating unlawful enrichment by manipulating land records and circumventing legal procedures.

The ACB, in its official statement, said it received credible inputs indicating that certain officials facilitated the exchange of prime evacuee land measuring over 5 kanals and 5 marlas in Srinagar with private land measuring 5 kanals and 17 marlas located on Gupkar Road, a high-value area in the city.

The exchange, it added, was carried out without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Defence Estates Office and was executed in blatant violation of the orders of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir as well as established government procedures.

The ACB’s preliminary enquiry found that public servants deliberately ignored legal requirements, manipulated land records, and colluded with private parties to facilitate the illegal land exchange. “These actions were aimed at providing undue benefits to select individuals while causing significant financial loss to the state exchequer,” the bureau said.

It added that official records, including revenue extracts and tenancy columns, were tampered with or falsified to misrepresent ownership and tenancy rights. Several officials allegedly attested and verified false entries, enabling the illegal registration of evacuee property in the names of private individuals.

The exchanged land on Gupkar Road, the ACB noted, holds high commercial and strategic value, making the deal grossly disproportionate in terms of value and benefit.

The investigation has also revealed that key procedural checks, including scrutiny by competent authorities and the required Defence Estates NOC, were deliberately bypassed, suggesting a premeditated conspiracy involving government officials and private beneficiaries.

“The acts amount to criminal misconduct, abuse of official position, forgery, and conspiracy to cause wrongful gain to private individuals and wrongful loss to the government,” the ACB said.

The bureau added that the illegal actions have not only led to a substantial financial loss but also compromised the sanctity of official custodianship over evacuee properties, which are meant to remain under state protection.

Based on its findings, the ACB has registered a case at Police Station ACB Srinagar and launched a full-scale investigation.

“Efforts are underway to identify the full chain of conspiracy, trace illegal financial transactions, and determine individual roles and responsibilities. Further arrests and departmental actions are expected as the investigation progresses,” the statement said.