J&K LAND ENCROACHMENT CASE | CBI files chargesheet against educational trust chairperson, patwari

J&K LAND ENCROACHMENT CASE | CBI files chargesheet against educational trust chairperson, patwari

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday filed a chargesheet against an educational trust chairperson and a patwari in a case of alleged encroachment and illegal possession of government land, officials said.

The chargesheet was filed in a special court in Jammu against Kanta Andotra, the then chairperson of Jammu-based RB Educational Trust, and Ravinder Singh, the then patwari of Muthi Hardo in Kathua, they said.

The agency had taken over the case on 12 September 2020 after a preliminary enquiry into the allegations of encroachment of huge tract of public, government and forest land in Kathua district in J&K by certain persons in violation of the J&K Agrarian Reforms Act in connivance with the revenue and forest officials, CBI spokesperson R C Joshi said.

Searches were conducted three days later at 10 locations, including the premises of the accused.

“During investigation it was found that the then chairperson of educational trust allegedly entered into conspiracy with the then Patwari. In pursuance to the conspiracy, fards were issued by the patwari without mentioning the details in respect of ceiling imposed under J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 and mutations were attested, facilitating illegal acquisition of land beyond ceiling limit by the educational trust, in gross violation of the J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976,” Joshi said.