J&K ACB uncovers major land scam involving evacuee property on Srinagar’s Gupkar Road

Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has unearthed a major land scam involving the illegal transfer of prime evacuee property located on Srinagar’s high-value Gupkar Road.

ACB SSP Javed Hassan said on Saturday that a criminal investigation has been launched into the large-scale scam, which involves senior government officials and private beneficiaries.

“The case centers on the illegal exchange and manipulation of prime evacuee land located on Gupkar Road, one of Srinagar’s most valuable areas. The officials of the Revenue Department and the Custodian Evacuee Property Department colluded with private individuals to execute an unlawful land swap,” he said.

According to the ACB, about 17 marlas of evacuee land were exchanged for property of significantly lesser value at another site. The exchange was carried out without the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Defense Estates Office and in violation of Jammu and Kashmir High Court directions.

Investigators found that officials deliberately bypassed legal procedures, falsified land records, and approved fake revenue entries to benefit private parties. “The enquiry revealed that tenancy columns and revenue extracts were tampered with to disguise ownership details. The evacuee property on Gupkar Road holds both high commercial and strategic value, making the manipulation a serious breach of public trust,” Hassan said.

He added that mandatory scrutiny and NOC requirements were intentionally ignored, indicating a premeditated conspiracy. The alleged offences include criminal misconduct, forgery, abuse of official position, and conspiracy, causing substantial financial loss to the government.

An FIR (No. 19/2025) has been registered at the ACB Police Station in 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 Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).

The investigation is ongoing to identify all those involved, trace illegal financial transactions, and determine individual accountability. “Arrests and departmental actions are likely. We urge citizens to stay alert and report any corruption or illegal dealings involving public servants through our official helpline and communication channels,” the SSP said.

Evacuee properties are lands left behind by residents who crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir before 1947. Constitutionally, those individuals remain Indian citizens, and their properties are held in trust by the state’s Custodian Department until the rightful owners or their heirs return to Jammu and Kashmir.