EOW carries out searches in Srinagar, Budgam in case against revenue officials, others

Srinagar, Jul 17 (PTI) The Economic Offences Wing carried out searches at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar and Budgam districts on Thursday in connection with a case against seven people, including two revenue department officials, for alleged corruption and cheating.
“Search warrants have been obtained from a court and searches are underway at seven locations in Srinagar and Budgam districts,” a spokesperson of the EOW, which was earlier known as the Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, said.
Giving details of the case, he said seven people, including then Balahama tehsildar Nusrat Aziz Lone and patwari Ashiq Ali were booked earlier this year for “fraudulently” making insertions in revenue records to benefit a private person.
The case against them was lodged following a written complaint, wherein it was alleged that the complainant had purchased a piece of land at Balhama from Mohammed Shafi Lone alias Shafi Cheeni and prepared three sale deeds.
The complainant had paid an amount or Rs 88.4 lakh to Shafi Cheeni and also given two kanals of land situated at Gooripora Rawalpora to the accused in exchange for the said land. This two-kanal land was subsequently sold off by the accused.
It was also alleged that the sale deeds were taken back by the accused for updating records.