ACB registers FIR against former revenue officers in Jammu Land Allotment Scam
Jammu, May 20 (KINS): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu has registered a formal case (FIR No. 08/2025) under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and Section 120-B RPC, at Police Station ACB Jammu. The case pertains to the illegal allotment of state land in favour of one Tara Singh, S/o Lehna Singh, a resident of Deli Rakh Bandu, District Jammu.
The FIR names the following individuals: Ravinder Sharma, then Tehsildar (Settlement) Jammu, Mohammad Bashir, then Tehsildar Bahu, Jammu
, Mohd Sarwar Lone, then Naib Tehsildar Bahu, Jammu, Mohd Rasheed Malik, then Patwari Chowadhi, Jammu, Beneficiaries including Tara Singh, and others.
The case revolves around the fraudulent allotment of state land to Tara Singh under Government Order No. 254/C dated 19.07.2014, purportedly as a refugee allottee under Cabinet Order No. 578-C of 1954. However, the mandatory conditions of the Cabinet Order were not fulfilled.
According to the ACB, the enquiry revealed that:
The allotment order was issued on 24.05.2013 by the then PRO, Jammu.
Ownership rights were granted on 19.07.2014, despite the fact that Tara Singh neither cultivated the land nor held possession of it as required under the Cabinet Order, which clearly stipulates that the land must be cultivated personally within six months of allotment, failing which the allotment would be cancelled.
Revenue records showed that the land was continuously recorded in the name of Nazir Ahmad, S/o Alam Deen, as Gair Muroosi.
No Girdawari entry was found in the name of Tara Singh. A Power of Attorney in favour of Javed Iqbal related to the land was executed even before ownership was formally conferred on Tara Singh.
The investigation points to a criminal conspiracy involving the aforementioned revenue officers, beneficiaries, and others to fraudulently acquire state land worth crores. The land was later sold, causing substantial loss to the state exchequer.Further investigation is underway.(KINS)
