Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case under FIR No. 21/2025 at Police Station ACB Srinagar, following a verification based on a complaint lodged by residents of village Arigam in Budgam district.
The verification revealed that one Ali Mohammad Khan, son of Sonaullah Khan, resident of Arigam Budgam, had illegally constructed a petrol pump on Kahcharaie land at Arigam in June 2020, using a license obtained from the competent authority through manipulated and misleading information.
Investigations found that in 2018, NOCs were issued by the then Patwari Arigam, Naib Tehsildar Arigam, and Tehsildar Khansahab for proprietary land under Survey Nos. 531 and 533 Min. However, these officials deliberately failed to record that access to the said land was possible only through State/Kahcharaie land (Survey No. 535) and also omitted to mention that the land was separated from the main road by encroachable Kahcharaie land.
It was further found that the concerned Patwari concealed the existence of Survey No. 532 (Shamilat land) while preparing the Khaka Dasti, thus misrepresenting the actual ground situation. Even after the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Budgam sought clarification in March 2018, the field staff falsely reported that the site was suitable for transportation and storage of fuel.
Based on these misleading NOCs and reports, the then Deputy Commissioner Budgam issued Petrol Pump License No. DCB/2020/10 dated 22.05.2020 in favour of the beneficiary for Survey Nos. 531 and 533, which were not adjacent to each other. The then SDM Khansahab also forwarded the reports to higher authorities without conducting an independent spot inspection or record verification.
By abusing their official positions and acting in criminal conspiracy with the beneficiary, the concerned revenue officers and officials facilitated encroachment on State land, thereby extending undue pecuniary benefit to the individual.
Accordingly, offences under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code have been established against the accused public servants and the beneficiary.
Further investigation in the case is underway.
