SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir today conducted a series of raids at multiple locations in Srinagar and Budgam districts in connection with a high-profile land scam involving corruption, cheating, and falsification of revenue records. The investigation has led to the registration of FIR No. 14/2025 against seven individuals, including the former Tehsildar of Balhama, Nusrat Aziz, and the then Patwari, Ashiq Ali.
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The case began with a written complaint from a Srinagar-based woman who alleged that she had purchased a piece of land measuring 5 kanals and 4 marlas at Balhama for Rs 88.4 lakh from Mohammad Shafi Lone, also known as Shafi Cheeni. Along with the monetary payment, she also gave away two kanals of land at Gooripora Rawalpora as part of the agreement. Three sale deeds were prepared and signed. However, the accused later took back the sale deeds claiming they needed to be updated in the revenue records. When the documents were returned, the complainant discovered that the Khasra numbers had been fraudulently altered — a move that effectively nullified her ownership claim.
The matter became further complicated when a portion of the land, specifically 2 kanals and 10 marlas, was forcibly occupied by another individual, who claimed to have bought the land from one Rayaz Ahmad Bhat. Upon verification, it was found that Bhat had no legal ownership of the land and had acquired it through manipulated entries in the revenue records.
The preliminary investigation by the Crime Branch has revealed that the accused, in collusion with certain revenue officials, deliberately altered Khasra numbers in the sale deeds. The forged documents were used to carry out false mutations in the official records, all aimed at illegally transferring the land to benefit other parties. It was found that these changes were facilitated by the then Tehsildar Balhama, Nusrat Aziz, and the then Patwari, Ashiq Ali. The tampered records were later used to allow the resale of land that did not lawfully belong to the seller.
The EOW has stated that the evidence collected so far establishes prima facie involvement of the accused in offences punishable under Sections 167, 420, and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, read with the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act Svt. 2006. The seven persons named in the FIR, including senior revenue officials and private individuals, are believed to have worked in an organised manner, taking advantage of systemic loopholes to deceive land buyers and manipulate official records.
The Crime Branch also confirmed that the main accused, Nusrat Aziz, is already under investigation in an earlier case — FIR No. 08/2021 — involving similar charges of forgery, cheating, and conspiracy. That case is said to be nearing completion.
Today’s raids were carried out after search warrants were obtained from a competent court, and operations are underway at seven different locations spread across Srinagar and Budgam. Officials are hopeful that the searches will yield more documentary and digital evidence to strengthen the case.
According to the Crime Branch, the accused have caused significant financial losses and mental anguish to innocent citizens, particularly in the districts of Srinagar and Budgam. The case underscores the urgent need for tighter oversight and reform within the revenue administration system in Jammu and .Source kashmir life