28/11/2025
Patwari, Co-Accused Booked in Land Fraud Case in South Kashmir
Srinagar, Nov 28, KNT: The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet in a major land fraud case before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Anantnag, against two accused for allegedly manipulating revenue records and facilitating the illegal sale of disputed land in South Kashmir.
The accused have been identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, son of Ali Mohammad Bhat of Babapora Qazigund in Kulgam district, who was posted as Patwari Halqa Khandipahari at the time of the offence, and Mohammad Yousuf Dar, son of Ghulam Ahmad Dar of Khandipahari Harnag in Anantnag district.
According to Crime Branch officials, the case originated from a complaint alleging that the then Patwari entered into a criminal conspiracy with the complainant’s brothers to fraudulently mutate land falling under Khewat numbers 05 and 07 at Khandipahari Harnag. The land in question was under litigation and a status quo order issued by a competent court was already reflected in official revenue records.
Investigations revealed that Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat allegedly concealed material facts and facilitated the ex*****on of fraudulent mutations, which enabled the sale of a portion of the disputed property. The inquiry further found that co-accused Mohammad Yousuf Dar procured a fake and forged gift deed falsely claimed to have been executed by his mother. During verification, the alleged witnesses associated with the document denied having witnessed or signed any such deed.
The complainant also alleged that the Patwari had demanded money for issuing revenue extracts and that repeated representations made to senior revenue authorities did not result in any corrective action.
Following preliminary verification which found the allegations to be prima facie true, FIR number 45 of 2015 was registered at Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir under sections 420, 468, 471, 120-B of the RPC and section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. After completion of investigation, the chargesheet was filed for judicial determination.
The court has now remanded both the accused to judicial custody. [KNT]
