Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch, Kashmir, has filed a charge sheet against ten accused persons in connection with a fictitious land compensation scam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
According to an official statement, the charge sheet in case FIR No. 12/2015 under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B RPC read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act was submitted before the Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Anantnag. The accused have been charged for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent land acquisition case related to compensation for non-existent beneficiaries.
The case pertains to the illegal release of compensation amounts for land that was falsely shown as acquired by the government during the construction of the Verinag–Kokernag road via Batagund.
The investigation revealed that several officials of the Revenue Department, including the then Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, Girdawar, and Patwari of Dooru, had conspired with private individuals to manipulate and forge revenue records. These falsified documents were allegedly used to claim compensation illegally, causing a substantial loss to the state exchequer.
“Fictitious entries were made in official records to obtain wrongful monetary benefits, thereby undermining public trust in government institutions,” the EOW said in a statement. “After a comprehensive investigation and collection of evidence, the charge sheet has been filed before the competent court for judicial determination.”
The Crime Branch reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in public administration and bringing to justice all those involved in economic offences.
Meanwhile, the J&K Police and security agencies continue to intensify operations against terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs), sympathisers, drug traffickers, and those engaged in hawala and financial crime networks. These coordinated efforts are aimed at dismantling the entire terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, as funds generated through such illicit activities are often used to sustain terrorism in the region.
