ACB Registers Corruption Case Against Former Tehsildar and Others
PTK NEWS DESK
RAJOURI : The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu & Kashmir has registered FIR no. 02/2024 at Police Station ACB Rajouri against Balwant Singh, former Tehsildar Rajouri (now retired), Mohd. Rafiq, former Patwari Rehtal, and others on charges of corruption. The case, under section 5(1)(d) read with section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and section 120-B RPC, implicates several individuals for allegedly manipulating land records for personal gain.
The ACB initiated the case following a verification process triggered by a written complaint. The complaint alleged that Balwant Singh, in conspiracy with Kanwal Singh of Choudhary Nar Tehsil and District Rajouri, passed an order on March 25, 2010, which unjustly declared Kanwal Singh as the sole Tenant-at-will of a property in Rehtal, Rajouri. This decision excluded other legal heirs of the late Brij Lal.
During the verification, it was found that Singh and Rafiq illegally transferred land to beneficiaries by manipulating entries in the land records. They recorded and attested mutation No. 417 under LB 06/C of 1958 and mutation No. 419 under S-432 of 1966 for land parcels totaling 5 kanals and 8 marlas in favor of Kanwal Singh, ignoring Brij Lal’s rightful claim.
Similarly, mutations No. 415/1 under LB-6/C of 1958 and 415/2 under S-432 of 1966 were recorded in favor of Masood Anwar for 5 marlas of land, also in violation of stipulated conditions. These mutations were attested despite the beneficiaries not meeting the prerequisite condition of continuous possession since 1957-58.
Further investigation revealed discrepancies in the official records, with conflicting entries found between Parat Sarkar and Parat Patwar for mutation no. 415/1 under LB-6/C of 1958. Additionally, the allocation of serial numbers to the mutation cases was found to be non-continuous, violating standing order No. 23-A regarding the record of mutations.
The ACB charges that the revenue officers, abusing their official positions and engaging in a criminal conspiracy, conferred undue benefits upon the beneficiaries for personal financial gain. The named officers and beneficiaries include Balwant Singh, now residing in Dogra Nagar, Jammu; Mohd. Rafiq, now Naib Tehsildar Kathua; Kanwal Singh; and Masood Anwar, both from Choudhary Nar Tehsil, Rajouri.
Further investigation into the case is ongoing, with the ACB committed to uncovering the full extent of the alleged corruption.
