The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK) has filed a chargesheet against eight individuals, including a senior BJP leader and four revenue officials, in one of Srinagar’s most significant land fraud cases in recent years.
The chargesheet, submitted before the Court of the Special Judge Anti-Corruption, pertains to the illegal encroachment and manipulation of land records for over 52 kanals of land in Ahel Danihama. The investigation, launched under FIR No. 23/2019, revealed a pattern of fraudulent mutations, forged records, and unlawful occupation of state land.
Forged Records, Fake Gifts, and Phantom Ownership
According to investigators, Nadeem Ahmad Mayer, also known as Nadeem Qasba, BJP’s Srinagar district vice president, and his brother Irfan Ahmad Mayer allegedly forged multiple mutation entries — numbered 13, 16, 17, 18, 30, 31, and 34 — using the pretext of an oral gift (Hiba Zabani).
Despite having no legal or familial claim, the brothers sold plots of the encroached land to over 70 families, sparking protests from genuine landholders. Investigators also found that 40 kanals of state land had been encroached upon, in addition to private property unlawfully sold.
“These mutations were carried out without government records, treasury vouchers, or approval — a complete bypass of the law,” said an official familiar with the probe.
The CBK report names retired Patwaris Abdul Hamid Kathu, Ghulam Jeelani Rather, and Ali Mohammad Dar, and serving official Nazir Ahmad Palla among those who allegedly enabled the fraud by manipulating land registers and overlooking ownership documents.
FCRF Launches CCLP Program to Train India’s Next Generation of Cyber Law Practitioners
Collusion Between Officials and Developers
The EOW investigation established that the fraudulent transactions were made possible through active collusion between public officials and private beneficiaries, revealing systemic corruption in land management.
The accused face charges under Sections 420, 447-A, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, as well as Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“This case underscores how public office was misused to illegally transfer land ownership,” said SSP EOW Abdul Waheed Shah. “The CBK remains committed to protecting public property from exploitation and ensuring accountability at every level.”
Politics, Power, and Public Trust
Qasba, who joined the BJP earlier this year, allegedly leveraged his new position to influence bureaucratic processes and expand control over disputed land. The revelation of his involvement has raised political and ethical questions over the misuse of office for personal gain.
The case, now before the court, has become emblematic of Kashmir’s ongoing struggle against institutional corruption, where political patronage and administrative collusion often determine the fate of public land.
