Srinagar, Aug 20 (KNZ): The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a chargesheet in case FIR No. 04/2019 before the Court of Special Anti-Corruption Judge Srinagar against 14 accused persons, including 11 officials of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), one Revenue official, and two private beneficiaries, in connection with an illegal building permission scam.
The case was registered following allegations that SMC officers, in connivance with Revenue authorities, facilitated illegal construction on State land at Barthana, Qamarwari (Khasra No. 90). Investigations revealed that building permission was fraudulently issued in the name of Ghulam Qadir Sofi—who had passed away in 2008—but was misused by his son, Mohammad Arif Sofi, to raise a commercial complex in violation of approved drawings. It was further established that he manipulated revenue records to encroach upon adjoining State land with the active support of accused public servants.
The investigation carried out by Police Station ACB Srinagar, supported by oral and documentary evidence, confirmed the charges of abuse of official position, criminal conspiracy, and conferring undue benefit to private individuals. The conspiracy between government functionaries and the beneficiaries was proved beyond doubt.
After obtaining the necessary sanction for prosecution from the Government, the chargesheet was produced against the 14 accused, including 12 public servants and two private beneficiaries. The case is now before the Hon’ble Court of Additional Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, with the next hearing scheduled for October 7, 2025.
