CBI chargesheets 2 in Kathua land grab case

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 28

The CBI today said it had filed a chargesheet against Kanta Andotra, the then chairperson of RB Educational Trust of Kathua, and Ravinder Singh, the then patwari of Muthi Hardo in Kathua, for “illegal possession and encroachment of land” by the Trust.

According to officials, the chargesheet states the agency sleuths found that the then chairperson of the Trust allegedly entered into a conspiracy with the patwari to encroach the land.

Conspiracy

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The chargesheet mentions that Kanta Andotra, the then chairperson of RB Educational Trust of Kathua, and Ravinder Singh, the then Patwari of Muthi Hardo, conspired to encroach upon a piece of land in Kathua.

“It has also been alleged that in pursuance to the conspiracy, fards were issued by the patwari without mentioning the details in respect of ceiling imposed under J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 and mutations were attested, thus facilitating illegal acquisition of land beyond ceiling limit by the Educational Trust, in gross violation of the J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976,” said a senior official.

The CBI had registered the instant case against the Trust (through its chairperson) and others on September 12, 2020. Searches were also conducted on September 15 last year at 10 locations, including Jammu and Kathua, on the premises of the accused, officials said, adding that further investigation was being done.

The Trust runs a school, B.Ed and nursing colleges on the land, transactions of which are being probed by the central agency for alleged irregularities in its purchase, an official said.