CBI books 8 public servants, guest house owners
Srinagar, Aug 4: The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against eight public servants including then CEOs of Patnitop Development Authority on the allegations of large scale illegal construction/encroachment of land in at Patnitop in Udhampur district.
In a statement a CBI spokesman said that proprietors of hotels, resorts and guest houses have also been booked on the allegations of large scale illegal construction/encroachment in Patnitop.
“A preliminary enquiry was earlier conducted on the directions of Hon’ble High Court of J&K. It was alleged that the public servants having dominion/jurisdiction over land in Patnitop, in conspiracy with the owners and proprietors of the hotels, guest houses and resorts had allowed illegal construction and illegal use of the said land in violation of law, leading to loss to the Government.”
He said that it was further alleged that many hotels and guest houses were constructed without any permission and were not registered with PDA. “It was also alleged that officials did not take any action despite being aware of such encroachment. In some cases, no compounding fee was allegedly deposited by the hotels.”
The spokesman said that searches were conducted on Tuesday at eleven locations including Jammu, Udhampur and Kathua districts, at the offices and residential premises of said public servants including then CEOs of PDA, transport department and sales tax department, which led to recovery of incriminating documents, huge investment in fixed deposits and immovable properties. “Further investigation is going on in the case,” he said. KNO)
