Stone crushers raided for illegal mining
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir today conducted joint surprise checks in various districts of Jammu division regarding illegal mining activities in the UT and registered Disproportionate Assets (DA) case against JKP Inspector Vijay Singh Choudhary, brother of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary.
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“The ACB teams conducted extensive searches at stone crushers at Bajalta near Jammu, Gandyal in Kathua district, Kaller and Doongi in Rajouri, District Mineral Office, Rajouri, and mining blocks at Saranu, Rajouri, Anji and Arnas in Reasi district,” an official statement issued by the ACB J&K this evening, said.
Moreover, during the course of investigation of case FIR 02/2026 of PS ACB Central registered against police Inspector Vijay Choudhary, the ACB conducted searches at residential houses at Santokh Vihar, Kaluchak, Jammu, Nonial, Nowshera, Rajouri, flat at GTB Nagar, Channi Rama, Jammu Opposite Birla Open School, Farm House at Marjali, Gharota, stone crusher at Tutte di Khui, Bajalta, Jammu, Tile factories, residential premises of Naresh Sharma at Channi Himmat and his official premises at Bahu Plaza.
Important documents were seized during the searches for scrutiny, the officials said.
The ACB statement said the Bureau received complaints regarding widespread illegal mining activities in Jammu division by mining block holders (lessee) in connivance with certain officers and officials of the Mining and Ecological Departments.
“In order to curb such illegal activities, the ACB constituted teams to conduct Joint Surprise Checks (JSCs) at different places in Jammu division. Most of the stone crushers and block holders were found indulging in illegal mining activities, functioning in blatant violation of the terms and conditions, thereby causing irreversible ecological degradation in the regions etc,” the ACB said.
It added that the teams collected the mobiles, computers, documents/record from all the sites, which is being scrutinised to find out irregularities etc.
Meanwhile, another statement issued by the ACB said, based on a specific input, a verification was conducted into the allegations of possession of huge disproportionate assets by Vijay Singh Choudhary, Inspector J&K Police son of Jia Lal Choudhary, a resident of village Nonial, Nowshera in district Rajouri, presently putting up at Santokh Vihar, Kaluchack on the outskirts of Jammu and posted in UT of Ladakh.
The verifications revealed that the suspect while posted in different places raised huge assets amounting to crores of rupees which were found highly disproportionate to his known sources of income. Further, it revealed that more than 10 properties in the shape of houses, shops & plots of land in 100 of kanals valued in crores have been raised by him mostly in the name of family members, his relatives and others, the ACB statement said.
On the basis of the verification conducted, a prima facie case of criminal misconduct was made out against the accused Vijay Singh Choudhary, Inspector J&K Police under offences punishable under Section 13(1) (b) read with Section 13 (2) of PC Act 1988.
Accordingly, a formal case FIR No 02/2026 was registered at Police Station ACB Central and investigation was taken up.
During the course of investigation, warrants were obtained for conducting searches from the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu. Thereafter, searches were conducted by the ACB teams at different locations which include his residential houses at Santokh Vihar, Kaluchak, Jammu, residential house at Nonial, Nowshera, Rajouri, business premises Stone Crusher and Tile Factory situated at Tutte di Khui, Bajalta, Jammu.
Also on the basis of information revealed during investigation, some other locations of Jammu were searched in terms of Section 185 BNSS.
During search, incriminating documents have been recovered and seized in the case. Further investigation of the case is going on.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary has defended his brother in the wake of an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raid in a disproportionate assets case, and said the action was driven by revenge.
“This fight has begun, and we will fight it legally. We have faith in India’s judiciary and in many good officers in Jammu and Kashmir who will ensure justice. If Vijay Singh is wrong, then he should be punished,” Choudhary told reporters here.
Defending his brother’s service record, Choudhary said the officer had fought militancy in Gursai, Thanamandi, Doda, and Supwal, and built a reputation for taking on militants and criminals wherever he was posted.
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