Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 11: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has unearthed a large-scale scam involving the illegal exchange and manipulation of valuable evacuee land in Srinagar.
The Bureau said it has initiated a major criminal investigation after “serious irregularities and fraudulent acts” came to light.
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“These acts have been allegedly committed by officials of the Revenue Department and the Custodian Evacuee Property Department, in active collusion with private individuals, for unlawful enrichment,” the ACB said in a statement.
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According to the Bureau, reliable information indicated that certain officers had facilitated the exchange of prime evacuee property land measuring 5 kanals and 5 marlas against proprietary land measuring 5 kanals and 17 marlas located at Gupkar Road, Srinagar.
The exchange, the ACB said, was executed without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Defence Estates Office “and in blatant violation of the directions of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir as well as established Government procedures regulating such transactions.”
An enquiry, as per ACB, revealed that the involved public servants had deliberately ignored legal requirements, manipulated land records, and colluded with private parties to facilitate the unlawful swap.
“These actions were aimed at extending undue benefits to select beneficiaries while causing wrongful loss to the state exchequer.”
The probe further revealed that official records were tampered with and falsified, particularly revenue extracts and tenancy columns, to conceal the true ownership and tenancy rights.
“Certain officials attested and verified false revenue entries and enabled the registration of evacuee property in private names.”
The Bureau noted that the exchanged properties were grossly disproportionate in value, with the evacuee land on Gupkar Road being of high commercial and strategic importance.
It said that mandatory scrutiny by competent authorities and the NOC from the Defence Estates Office were deliberately bypassed, “indicating a premeditated conspiracy among involved officials and private beneficiaries.”
The ACB stated that the acts amount to criminal misconduct, abuse of official position, forgery, and conspiracy to cause wrongful gain to private individuals and wrongful loss to the Government.
“The illegal actions have not only resulted in substantial financial loss to the Government but also compromised the integrity of official custodianship over evacuee properties/assets meant to remain under state protection.”
Based on the findings, FIR No. 19/2025 has been registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar under Sections 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and Section 120-B of the RPC.
“The investigation is ongoing to identify the complete chain of conspiracy, determine the extent of illegal financial transactions, and establish individual roles and responsibilities,” the ACB said, adding that further arrests and departmental actions are expected as the case progresses.
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