J&K ACB Registers FIR Against Former Bijbehara Tehsildar, Others in Illegal Land Mutation Case

Srinagar, July 9: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against the then Tehsildar Bijbehara Ghulam Rasool Bhat and other officials over alleged irregularities in the fraudulent attestation of 162 land mutations involving around 1,050 kanals of land in Bijbehara during 2022-2024. The case has also been registered against the then Naib Tehsildar Bijbehara Fayaz Ahmad Wani, concerned Patwari Ghulam Nabi Banday and others for their alleged involvement in illegal land transactions that reportedly caused financial loss to the government exchequer. According to the ACB, the accused officials allegedly attested mutations without registered transfer deeds and without payment of mandatory registration fees and stamp duty. The investigation revealed alleged violations of revenue laws and Standing Order 23-A. ACB said the purported relinquishment deeds were allegedly used to disguise sale transactions to avoid registration charges and stamp duty, while funds were reportedly routed through intermediaries and multiple bank accounts. Based on the findings, ACB registered FIR No. 06/2026 at Police Station ACB Anantnag under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Section 120-B of the IPC, against the accused officials and others. Following the registration of the case, ACB teams conducted simultaneous searches at the residential premises of the accused after obtaining search warrants from the Special Judge, ACB Anantnag. Further investigation into the matter is underway.