FIR No. 21/2025 Filed by ACB Srinagar Over Fraudulent Petrol Pump Construction in Budgam

Budgam, Nov 4: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case in connection with the illegal construction of a petrol pump on Kahcharaie land in Arigam, Budgam, revealing a deep-rooted nexus between private beneficiaries and revenue officials. Acting on a complaint from local residents, the Bureau initiated a thorough verification process, which exposed serious irregularities, manipulation of official records, and deliberate concealment of facts by multiple officers.

According to ACB officials, the investigation established that Ali Mohammad Khan, son of Sonaullah Khan of Arigam Budgam, had constructed a petrol pump in June 2020 on Kahcharaie (state) land by obtaining a license on the basis of misleading information. The verification found that the land under Survey Nos. 531 and 533 Min was listed as proprietary property; however, access to it was only through Survey No. 535, which is classified as state land. The concerned field officers failed to record this vital detail, thereby facilitating encroachment.

Further inquiries revealed that the Patwari of Arigam, along with the Naib Tehsildar Arigam and Tehsildar Khansahab, had issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in 2018 without verifying the site’s true status. The officials deliberately omitted reference to Survey No. 532, which was Shamilat land, and prepared a distorted Khaka Dasti (site map) that misrepresented the actual location and ownership. Despite a clarification sought by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Budgam in March 2018, the field staff falsely reported that the site was feasible for the storage and transportation of fuel.

On the basis of these misleading NOCs and manipulated field reports, the then Deputy Commissioner Budgam granted a petrol pump license (No. DCB/2020/10 dated 22.05.2020) in favour of the beneficiary. The SDM Khansahab also endorsed the proposal without conducting a site visit or record verification. The ACB’s findings suggest that the officials abused their official positions, colluded with the beneficiary, and facilitated encroachment on state land for private gain.

The Bureau has registered FIR No. 21/2025 at Police Station ACB Srinagar under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case formally indicts the public servants involved and the private beneficiary for criminal conspiracy, corruption, and abuse of authority.

An ACB spokesperson stated that the case underscores the Bureau’s resolve to protect state property from illegal encroachments and to hold accountable those who misuse their positions for personal enrichment. “The investigation is ongoing, and more evidence is being collected to identify all individuals involved in the conspiracy,” the spokesperson added.

The registration of the case has been widely welcomed by residents of Arigam, who had long voiced concerns about the misuse of public land. Locals have expressed hope that the action will serve as a deterrent against similar acts of collusion and corruption within the revenue machinery.

Officials confirmed that the ACB will soon record statements of the officers concerned and conduct further searches to trace any additional documents or financial links between the accused parties. The Bureau reiterated that its primary focus remains the protection of state assets and the establishment of integrity in land administration across Jammu and Kashmir.