ED raids 9 locations in Jammu over custodian land ‘grab’ case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at multiple locations in Jammu linked to revenue officials in connection with an alleged land-grabbing case involving custodian land.

At least nine locations in Jammu and one in Udhampur were searched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Those under the scanner include Patwaris Pranav Dev Singh and Rahul Kai, Naib Tehsildar Akeel Ahmed and several private individuals.

According to officials, the action is part of the ED’s probe into corruption and manipulation of custodian land records in Jammu since 2022. The case originates from an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (Central), J&K Police, which alleged large-scale irregularities and illegal occupation of custodian land — properties belonging to those who migrated to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after Partition.

The ED suspects that government officials, in collusion with private parties, forged records, altered revenue entries and facilitated encroachment on prime custodian land, causing significant losses to the state exchequer.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, ED, Jammu, has provisionally attached several immovable properties worth Rs 66.77 crore belonging to M/s Bharat Papers Limited under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, (PMLA). The attached properties include the company’s factory land and building, along with two residential houses.

The ED initiated investigation following a CBI-ACB Jammu FIR against Bharat Papers Limited and its directors — Anil Kumar, Parveen Kumar, Baljinder Kumar and Rajinder Kumar, all sons of the late Jagdish Chander — for defrauding a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India to the tune of Rs 200 crore.

Investigations revealed that the company and its directors diverted loan funds through bogus entities and bank accounts outside the consortium. Funds were also siphoned off through cash withdrawals directly from loan accounts. Machine parts from the factory were allegedly removed and sold without the knowledge of the banks.