JAMMU JAN 31 : Anti‑Corruption Bureau, Jammu, today produced charge‑sheets in two separate cases before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Anti‑Corruption, Jammu, relating to the illegal transfer of a large chunk of state land in Nagrota and the fraudulent issuance of subsidized ration to non‑existent BPL/AAY families in village Khandwal, Jammu.
In the first case, registered as FIR No. 09/2020 under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, and Section 120‑B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), the ACB has charged Rajesh Kumar, then Incharge Tehsildar Nagrota, Riaz Ahmed, then Incharge Patwari Halqa Jagti Nagrota, along with 31 beneficiaries, for the illegal transfer of state land in the villages of Jagti, Nagrota, Dung, Marh and Sitni of Tehsil Nagrota, District Jammu. The alleged offences took place between 2016 and 2018.
Investigations revealed that the accused public servants, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy, dishonestly conferred proprietary (ownership) rights over state land on private individuals who were already in illegal occupation of the plots. They fraudulently invoked Government Notifications LB‑6/C of 1958 and S‑432 of 1966 while deliberately violating the mandatory conditions and safeguards prescribed under those notifications. As a result, state land measuring 196 kanal and 10 marla—worth over ₹22 crore at current market rates—was illegally transferred to private beneficiaries through 18 unauthorized mutations, causing wrongful loss to the exchequer and unlawful gain to the accused.
After a thorough probe, the ACB found sufficient evidence to establish the commission of offences by the accused public servants and private beneficiaries. The charge‑sheet in this case has been filed before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Anti‑Corruption, Jammu, which has since transferred the matter to the Hon’ble Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Anti‑Corruption, Jammu, for judicial determination.
In the second case, registered as FIR No. 16/2011 under Section 5(1)(c)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, and Sections 409 and 120‑B RPC, the ACB has filed a charge‑sheet against Bhajan Singh, then Tehsil Supply Officer (TSO), Jammu; Miraj‑U‑Din, then Assistant Director, CA&PD, Rural Jammu; Mohd Rashid, then Patwari Halqa Khandwal; Paramdeep Singh, then Sarpanch Panchayat Khandwal; Dhrub Singh, then Panch village Khandwal; Harbans Lal, then Ration Dealer Panchayat Khandwal (now deceased); Balbir Singh, then Panch village Khandwal (now deceased); Romesh Singh, then Nambardar village Khandwal (now deceased); and Ami Chand, then Chowkidar village Khandwal (now deceased).
This case pertains to the fraudulent issuance of subsidized ration to 188 non‑existent BPL/AAY families in village Khandwal, Jammu, between 2004 and 2010. The FIR was registered on August 10, 2011, after a verification by the ACB revealed that Bhajan Singh and others, in collusion with Harbans Lal and other accused, dishonestly processed and recommended Harbans Lal’s appointment as ration dealer without proper verification of the beneficiary list, which contained fictitious families.
From 2004 to 2010, CA&PD officials continued to issue subsidized wheat, rice and sugar to 165 BPL and 66 AAY families listed in the fabricated roster. Verification later showed that only 26 BPL and 17 AAY families were genuine, while 139 BPL and 49 AAY families—totaling 188—were non‑existent. During this period, approximately 1,852.19 quintals of wheat/atta and 1,564.72 quintals of rice were issued under the BPL quota, and 586 quintals of wheat/atta and 601.6 quintals of rice under the AAY category to these fictitious families through Harbans Lal. Additionally, about 498.05 quintals of excess sugar were also issued to the dealer between 2007 and 2010.
By abusing their official positions and acting in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy, the accused misappropriated subsidized ration meant for genuine BPL/AAY families, causing a financial loss of ₹30,33,326.05 to the state exchequer. The ACB has now produced the charge‑sheet in this case before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Anti‑Corruption, Jammu, for judicial adjudication.
