The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday morning carried out raids at nine locations in Jammu and Udhampur in connection with an alleged custodian land scam. Sources confirmed that residences and offices of several revenue department officials and influential persons, including the PA of a former minister, were searched.

Focus of the raids

Eight locations in Jammu and one in Udhampur were covered in the operation. Those under scrutiny include Patwari Pranav Dev Singh, Patwari Rahul Kai, Naib Tehsildar Aqeel Ahmed, and others. The accused are alleged to have been involved in illegal occupation and fraudulent transfers of custodian land, which belongs to refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Case background

The case stems from a 2022 FIR filed by the ACB Central, Jammu and Kashmir Police. Officials said the raids are aimed at gathering evidence of corruption, land grabbing, fake property deals, and possible money laundering linked to custodian land.

Custodian land in Jammu has long been under investigation, with recurring complaints of forged transfers, encroachments, and misuse of authority by officials in collusion with private parties. Friday’s action is seen as part of a wider crackdown on land scams and corruption in the Union Territory.