Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Apr 13: In a major development in a long-pending corruption case, the Jammu & Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a charge sheet against 22 individuals including sitting Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi for allegedly manipulating revenue records to withdraw fraudulent compensation payments in Budgam district.
An official spokesperson of the ACB said that the charge sheet was filed before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Srinagar in connection with FIR No. 18/2009. The accused have been booked under Sections 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act Svt. 2006 and Sections 120-B, 467, 468, and 471 of the RPC.
The accused include two Collectors from LAWDA, four retired government officials, and 16 private beneficiaries who allegedly conspired to misrepresent land records during a compensation process meant for Dal dwellers under Government Order No. 56-Rev(S) of 2006.
The ACB had launched a Joint Surprise Check (JSC) into the matter following allegations of large-scale irregularities and misuse of official position by officials from the Rakhs and Farms Department, Agriculture Department, LAWDA, and Revenue Department. “The probe revealed that officials colluded with certain Kamas (tenants) to fraudulently inflate landholding figures in official records to claim excess compensation,” the ACB statement said.
Investigations found deliberate tampering and insertions in the revenue records, where the possession of land by certain tenants was falsely increased for instance, showing 60 kanals instead of 6 kanals under Khasra No. 1692, 40 kanals instead of 4 under Khasra No. 1666/750, and 7 kanal 10 marlas instead of 2 kanals under Khasra No. 1736.
“This manipulation enabled beneficiaries to receive excess compensation to the tune of ?38.20 lakh, causing direct losses to the state exchequer,” the ACB noted.
The charge sheet has been presented before the Hon’ble Court for judicial determination. The involvement of a serving MP in the case is likely to draw significant political and legal attention in the days ahead.