Revenue officials booked in land transfer case in JK

Srinagar, 31 May-2014(PTI): Vigilance produced challan against Revenue officials for bungling in land acquisition at Pahalgam. State Vigilance Organisation today produced challan against Collector Land Acquisition, Pahalgam and other Revenue officials for misappropriation of Rs 5175 lacs in acquisition of land for Golf Course, Pahalgam. Three cases were today lodged against some revenue officials of Srinagar, Pulwama and Budgam districts in connection with a multi-crore land transfer scandal under the Roshni Act, Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Organisation said here.The cases were registered after a Special Investigation Team pointed the multi-core?scandal.

Revenue officials booked in land transfer case in JK

Case FIR No.1/2009 U/S 5(2) P.C Act 2006 r/w 120-B, 420, 467, 468-RPC P/S VOK was registered following a verification which revealed that land measuring 19 marlas situated at Laripura, Phalgam was recorded under khasra No.1168/224, in the revenue records of Pahalgam, which was identified for acquisition for Golf ground. It was found that the measurement entry of land in revenue record was dishonestly manipulated and changed from 19 marlas to 10 kanals, 19 marlas by officials of the Revenue Department Anantnag.

The investigation revealed that land measuring 19 marlas situated at Laripora, Pahalgam recorded under Khasra No. 1168/224 in revenue records was identified for acquisition for the Golf Course. The measurement entry of land in revenue record was dishonestly manipulated and changed from 19 marlas to 10 Kanals and 19 marlas by officials of revenue department in connivance with the beneficiary. The officers/officials of revenue department, Anantnag under a well knit criminal conspiracy had drawn and disbursed an amount of Rs 56,66,625/- as compensation against the 10 kanal 19 marla land under Khasra No. 1168/224 at village Laripora, making an excess payment of Rs 51.75 lacs against non-existing 10 kanal land causing corresponding loss to the State Exchequer.

The challaned officials include Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Rather, then Collector Land acquisition, Golf Course Pahalgam, Mohammad Dawood Khan, Section Officer, D.C. office Anantnag, Ghulam Mohammad Itoo, then Patwari, Laripora, Ali Mohammad Itoo, then Patwari, Laripora and Mohammad Ramzan Wani S/o Gh. Mohammad Wani R/o Laripora, Pahalgam , beneficiary. The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed on 27-02-2010.