Jammu, July 8: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, has registered two more FIRs in connection with the alleged fraudulent transfer of Custodian land in the Bhalwal and Amb areas of Jammu district, further expanding its ongoing investigation into what it describes as a major land scam involving revenue officials, Form Alaf holders and beneficiaries.
According to an official statement, the ACB had received inputs alleging that thousands of kanals of Custodian land situated at Asarwan, Mishriwala, Bhalwal and R.S. Pura in Jammu district had been fraudulently occupied through alleged manipulation of revenue records in connivance with officials of the Revenue and Custodian departments.
The bureau said an earlier verification had revealed that more than 1,000 kanals of Custodian land were allegedly shown as allotted to displaced persons on the basis of fake allotment orders, despite the beneficiaries not being entitled to such allotments. Following those findings, the ACB had already registered 27 FIRs, investigations into which are presently underway.
During the latest verification, the ACB alleged that several displaced persons from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who had already been allotted land under the rehabilitation scheme, subsequently managed to obtain mutations of additional Custodian land in the Bhalwal area through alleged fake government or Provisional Rehabilitation Office (PRO) orders or without any valid allotment orders.
The bureau further alleged that these mutations were facilitated in connivance with Patwaris, Girdawars, Naib Tehsildars and Tehsildars, following which the land was sold to various purchasers either directly or through attorneys and intermediaries, resulting in alleged loss to the government exchequer.
Based on these findings, the ACB has registered FIR No. 09/2026 at Police Station ACB Central under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.
The accused named in the FIR include Altaf Hussain, then Patwari; Amjid Malik, then Girdawar; Aqeel Ahmad, then Naib Tehsildar, Bhalwal; Mohan Singh; Rabina Kouser; and Nazir Hussain.
In another case, registered as FIR No. 10/2026, the ACB alleged that revenue officials, in conspiracy with beneficiaries, fraudulently attested mutations relating to approximately 15 kanals and eight marlas of land at village Amb in Bhalwal, thereby illegally conferring ownership rights over the property.
The accused named in the second FIR include Baldev Raj, then Patwari of Village Amb; Pawan Kumar Kohli, then Naib Tehsildar; Rashpal Singh, identified as a beneficiary; and others.
The ACB said both cases have been registered under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and laws relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has taken up further investigation into both FIRs.
