Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has exposed a major land scam involving the illegal transfer and manipulation of evacuee property located on Srinagar’s upscale Gupkar Road.
Illegal Land Exchange and Collusion Exposed
ACB Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Javed Hassan revealed on Saturday that the bureau has initiated a criminal probe into a large-scale scam involving senior government officials and private individuals. The case revolves around the unlawful exchange of prime evacuee land on Gupkar Road — one of the city’s most sought-after locations.
According to Hassan, “The officials of the Revenue Department and the Custodian Evacuee Property Department colluded with private individuals to execute an unlawful land swap.”
Procedural Violations and Falsification of Records
Investigations have shown that around 17 marlas of evacuee land were exchanged for property of significantly lesser value at a different site. This exchange was reportedly executed without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Defence Estates Office and in direct violation of J&K High Court orders.
Officials allegedly ignored established legal procedures, falsified land documents, and inserted fake entries into revenue records to favor private parties. “The enquiry revealed that tenancy columns and revenue extracts were tampered with to disguise ownership details,” Hassan stated.
High-Value Property and Serious Breach of Trust
The property in question, located on Gupkar Road, is not only of immense commercial worth but also holds strategic importance. The manipulation of its ownership records has been termed by the ACB as a grave breach of public trust.
The investigation found that the required scrutiny and NOC procedures were deliberately bypassed, suggesting a pre-planned conspiracy. The alleged offences include forgery, abuse of official position, criminal misconduct, and conspiracy — all leading to a substantial financial loss to the government.
FIR Registered and Probe Continues
The ACB has registered FIR No. 19/2025 at its Srinagar Police Station under Sections 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and Section 120-B of the RPC.
“The investigation is ongoing to uncover the full conspiracy, trace illegal financial transactions, and fix individual accountability,” Hassan added. He also noted that arrests and departmental actions are expected in the coming days.
The bureau urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any instances of corruption or irregular dealings involving public servants through its official helpline and communication channels.
Background: What Are Evacuee Properties?
Evacuee properties refer to lands left behind by residents who migrated to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) before 1947. Constitutionally, these individuals are still considered Indian citizens, and their properties are held in trust by the state’s Custodian Department until the rightful owners or their heirs return to Jammu and Kashmir.