Chargesheet Filed in Major Land-Fraud Case Involving Retired Revenue Officials and Businessman: Crime Branch Kashmir

Srinagar :The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch J&K on Thursday said that it has submitted a chargesheet in case FIR No. 79/2022 under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B RPC read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Srinagar.

In a handout to the CBK said that the chargesheet has been filed against the following accused individuals, Habibullah Bhat, Businessman, S/o Mohammad Sultan Bhat, R/o Omarhair Buchpora, Mohammad Rajab Reshi, Retired Naib Tehsildar, S/o Haji Ghulam Ahmad Reshi, R/o Brein Nishat, Syed Khurshid Ahmad, then Patwari, S/o Late Syed Mohammad Amin, R/o Watalbagh Lar, Ganderbal.

The case originated from a written complaint alleging that a fraudulent mutation of land measuring 10 marlas, falling under Khasra Nos. 467 and 468 at Zoonimar Eidgah, Srinagar, had been executed in favour of the accused beneficiary on the pretext of a sale deed. Accordingly a probe was ordered and during Investigation, it was revealed that no such sale deed bearing Registration No. 1693 dated 08.09.2003 had ever been registered by the concerned Sub-Registrar.

Investigation established that accused Habibullah Bhat, in criminal conspiracy with the then Patwari Syed Khurshid Ahmad and Naib Tehsildar Mohammad Rajab Reshi, manipulated revenue records and fraudulently recorded mutation entries on the basis of a non-existent sale deed. Their involvement in the commission of offences has been prima facie substantiated, and the chargesheet has accordingly been submitted for judicial determination.

The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch J&K reiterates its commitment to safeguarding public property and ensuring accountability against corruption and fraud, reads the statement.(GNS)