Ex-JDA Vice Chairman, wife to face trial in Trikuta Nagar land corruption case
Court orders trial of ex-JDA VC, wife over alleged illegal land regularisation
Jammu, Apr 16: The Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Jammu has ordered the framing of charges against former Jammu Development Authority Vice Chairman Vinod Sharma and his wife Mamta Sharma in the Trikuta Nagar land case, observing that a prima facie case is made out against them under the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B RPC.
The order was passed by Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu Sonia Gupta in challan file number 154/2025, arising out of FIR number 18/2014 registered at Police Station VOJ Jammu. The prosecution was represented by Additional Public Prosecutor M.A. Almansoor, while the accused were represented by Advocates Manik Khajuria and Dhruv Pant.
According to the prosecution, Vinod Sharma and his wife are accused of securing illegal benefit in connection with Plot No. 42, Sector 1-A, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. The court noted that while the original allotment of 5,400 square feet and the purchase of 4,300 square feet of private land are no longer the central issues in the case, the main controversy now centres around a 900 square feet strip of land that was allegedly regularised illegally in favour of Mamta Sharma.
The court observed that the prosecution material suggests that the 900 square feet strip was not ordinary JDA land, but was linked to a nallah or sewerage passage. It further noted that this portion of land was allegedly regularised on the basis of incorrect reports submitted by revenue officials in alleged connivance with Vinod Sharma, who had served in the JDA in various capacities, including as Vice Chairman.
Referring to official communications and demarcation records placed before it, the court said the material indicated that a sewerage line or nallah was passing through the site. It observed that the question of how land meant for such public utility purposes came to be regularised in favour of the accused is a serious matter that requires a full trial.
Holding that the material on record gives rise to grave suspicion sufficient for the framing of charges, the court ruled that Vinod Sharma and Mamta Sharma must face trial in the case.
Meanwhile, proceedings against co-accused Rishi Kumar, then Patwari JDA, and Ghany Sham, then Naib Tehsildar JDA, were declared abated as both had died before the filing of the charge sheet.
