The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Srinagar has launched a major investigation into what it describes as a large-scale land scam involving the illegal exchange and manipulation of high-value evacuee property in Srinagar’s prime Gupkar area. The case allegedly implicates several officials from the Revenue and Custodian Evacuee Property Departments, accused of colluding with private beneficiaries to illegally transfer government land for personal gain.
According to the ACB statement, the Bureau received credible information suggesting that around 17 marlas of prime evacuee property on Gupkar Road, one of Srinagar’s most expensive localities had been illegally exchanged with land of significantly lesser value elsewhere.Gupkar Road in Srinagar, one of the city’s most prized and strategically sensitive localities, besides poshest area.
The exchange, ACB said, was executed without the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Defence Estates Office and in clear violation of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court’s directions as well as standing government rules that regulate such transactions.
Preliminary inquiry conducted by the Bureau revealed that officials had deliberately manipulated land records, ignored legal requirements, and falsified revenue entries to benefit select private individuals. Key documents, including tenancy columns and revenue extracts, were allegedly tampered with to conceal ownership details and facilitate the illegal transfer.
“The value of the exchanged properties was grossly disproportionate, with the evacuee land on Gupkar Road being of high commercial and strategic importance,” the Bureau noted in its release.The investigation also found that the mandatory scrutiny by competent authorities and the required NOC from Defence Estates were deliberately bypassed, suggesting a premeditated conspiracy between public servants and private parties.
The Bureau stated that these acts amounted to criminal misconduct, abuse of official position, forgery and conspiracy causing wrongful gain to private beneficiaries and wrongful loss to the government.Following the inquiry, the ACB registered FIR No. 19/2025 at Police Station ACB Srinagar under Section 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006 and Section 120-B of the RPC.
The Bureau said the investigation is continuing to trace the entire chain of conspiracy and identify all individuals involved, including the nature and extent of financial benefits exchanged. Further arrests and departmental action are expected as the probe advances.
The ACB has urged citizens to report any instance of corruption or misuse of public office through its official helpline and communication channels.
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